UPDATE 5.30PM: An electric guitar has allegedly been used to murder a 47-year-old patient at a Shellharbour Hospital mental health facility.
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A 31-year-old man who was also a patient at the Eloura West Mental Health Unit has been charged over the incident, and is due to appear in court on Friday.
Police said the victim was discovered about 8am by a staff member making rounds, however the Mercury understands the alleged attack occurred much earlier in the evening.
Medical personnel attempted to revive the man, but he was pronounced deceased a short time later.
The Eloura West Mental Health Unit is a high-dependency facility.
Following the discovery, police from Lake Illawarra Local Area Command and the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad were alerted and launched an investigation into the incident.
Following inquiries police spoke with the 31-year-old male patient who had allegedly assaulted the older man.
Police will further allege the younger man struck the older man in the head with an electric guitar during a dispute.
The younger man was later charged with murder and has been refused bail to appear before Port Kembla Local Court on Friday.
Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District chief executive Sue Browbank said the incident was the subject of a NSW Police investigation.
EARLIER:
Homicide police are investigating after a ‘‘serious incident’’ involving two patients at Shellharbour Hospital’s mental health unit on Thursday morning.
A mental health patient killed another patient, multiple sources have told the Mercury.
NSW police said homicide detectives were investigating the incident.
Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District chief executive Sue Browbank did not confirm the patient was killed but said the incident, which occurred at the Eloura West Mental Health Unit, was now the subject of a NSW Police investigation.
‘‘My priority is for investigations to occur as quickly as possible,’’ Ms Browbank said.
‘‘I will provide further updates as soon as I am able to.’’