Man, 22, arrested after 'biting off patient's ear and attacking two more in A&E rampage'

One victim suffered serious injuries to his ear, with witnesses claiming part of it was bitten off entirely during the attack.

Two other patients - a woman in her 40s and a man in his 70s, received treatment for more minor wounds at the scene.

The alleged attacker, who has not been named, was handcuffed on Saturday afternoon.

He was detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act and arrested on suspicion of assault, assaulting a police officer, and racially aggravated public order offences.

Michael Anderson, 34, had brought his pregnant partner to A&E when the incident unfolded before them.

"Two police officers had come in escorting this other lad who was behind us," he told the Manchester Evening News.

The man grew agitated while in the waiting room, then stood and began counting everyone there.

"He then went into the corridor and it was quiet for a minute or so before he started screaming," Mr Anderson said.

"There was this man, who was quite frail, walking out and this guy swung for him.

"Another person then saw this and tried to grab him and stop him, when he latched onto his ear and has bitten part of it off."

The 34-year-old described how he intervened to protect other patients from further harm.

"My pregnant girlfriend was panicking by this point, so I went in and tried to put him on the floor," he said.

"I pulled him up off the man he was latching on to and throw him back down, got on top of him and restrained him. A male nurse came to help."

One young woman sat curled up on the floor, suffering a panic attack.

"It was honestly like a bomb had gone off afterwards," Mr Anderson recalled.

"There were just people in disbelief. Some had backed into one side of the room. It was hard to grasp what had just happened."

The witness said a police officer later returned to reassure those present that the suspect was secured in a van.

"But patients should have the right to feel safe when they're already feeling vulnerable. It shouldn't be up to the public to have to get involved," he added.

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Sharples of Greater Manchester Police's Bolton district said the incident had caused "concern among staff, patients and the wider community".

"Officers are continuing to engage with staff and patients at the hospital to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the incident," he said.

Any members of the public with information has since been urged to contact police via 101 or via the force website, quoting log 2055 of 02.01.2026.