Prison officers shoot dead inmate trying to escape Lismore hospital

A prisoner who allegedly assaulted a corrective services officer while under medical escort to a public hospital has died after being shot while trying to escape.

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A prisoner under medical escort to a public hospital has been shot dead by a Corrective Services NSW officer after he allegedly tried to escape.

It is alleged the 43-year-old inmate assaulted one of the two officers after he was being led from Lismore Base Hospital after treatment on Friday at 7.30pm.

Officers fired a warning shot, which he ignored, before he was fatally struck.

Paramedics treated the man before rushing him inside, where he died two hours later.

The 43-year-old male inmate was shot after trying to escape following hospital treatment.

Police and NSW Corrective Services are investigating the man’s death with the two prison officers assisting police with inquires.

While the identity of the inmate has not been released, it is understood he is “known” to Strike Force Raptor, which investigates outlaw motorcycle gangs in NSW.

The Sunday Telegraph revealed last year dozens of prison inmates are being taken to public hospitals every day for trivial and non-urgent ailments because jail nurses are incapable of treating even minor complaints.

Despite every prison having its own health centre, underqualified nurses mean the majority of inmates are being escorted to the nearest hospitals for basic medical care.

Originally published as Prison officers shoot dead inmate trying to escape Lismore hospital