Policeman Who Chased Escaped Prisoner Still In Coma

Carmine De Rosa, a 28-year-old prison officer from Naples, is still in danger of dying. He was seriously injured while trying to stop the escape of an inmate who had jumped ten meters from a window.

As the hunt continues for the fugitive prisoner, Mordjane Nazim, a 32-year-old of Palestinian origin.

The accident left De Rosa comatose, and he is currently in intensive care following a major surgical procedure. Meanwhile, the escaped prisoner temporarily eluded authorities, disappearing without a trace.

The incident occurred at dawn at Milan's San Paolo Hospital. The inmate, Mordjane Nazim, a 32-year-old Palestinian, had been taken to the hospital the previous evening due to injuries sustained in a fight with other inmates. Despite being in custody, Nazim had been placed in a regular ward of the emergency room, not the one reserved for inmates.

The prisoner's escape occurred shortly after 5 a.m., when Nazim managed to climb out of a bathroom window on the second floor of the hospital.

The accident caused De Rosa to suffer a severe cerebral hemorrhage, skull and spinal fractures, and brain and lung contusions. Although some witnesses indicated that the injured officer attempted to get up and take a few steps, his condition immediately appeared serious to emergency personnel.

He was stabilized, intubated, and subsequently transferred to San Carlo Hospital, where he underwent neurosurgery to remove the cerebral hemorrhage and perform a "cranial decompression," according to a medical bulletin released in the early afternoon.

The prison police unions have expressed their solidarity and support to the injured officer and his family. The head of the Department of Penitentiary Administration (DAP), Giovanni Russo, praised the officer, calling him a hero for his courage in attempting to stop the escape, risking his own life. The Minister of Justice also expressed his deep sorrow and appreciation for the officer and his family, emphasizing the State's gratitude for his sacrifice.

Undersecretary of Justice Andrea Ostellari emphasized the need to review the current prison healthcare system, limiting the transfer of dangerous inmates to external facilities only in exceptional cases. This point was also raised by the unions, who emphasized the dramatic nature of the prison emergency and the difficult working conditions of prison staff.

Prisoner escapes from hospitals are a growing problem. According to data from the Department of Prisons (DAP), eight inmates managed to escape from hospitals this year, double the number for the entire year of 2022. This number is almost triple the number of inmates who escaped from penitentiaries in 2023 (three escapees, compared to eight the previous year). In two of the cases in 3, inmates managed to escape from hospitals despite being under judicial surveillance.