18 May 2023 , 12:13
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A dementia patient has been left with a fractured skull and suspected 'brain bleed' after police tasered her in a care home.
Clare Nowland, a 95-year-old mother-of-eight, was found by staff holding a knife at Yallambee Lodge, in southern New South Wales, Australia.
Nursing home workers then called the police who attempted to disarm the great-grandmother before she was tasered twice.
Andrew Thaler, who knows the family, told the Guardian Australia: "The police tasered this woman twice, once in front of her chest, and once in the back, then she’s fallen and struck her head.
“The family are grieving because they don’t expect their nan to make it through the day, or tomorrow at the latest."
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Police added: “A critical incident investigation has been launched after an elderly woman sustained injuries during an interaction with police at an aged care facility in the state’s south today.
“A critical incident team will now investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
Clare is well-known and beloved by the community.
Yallambee Lodge near Cooma where she was tasered on Wednesday (NSW government)She celebrated her 80th birthday in 2008 by going skydiving over Canberra.
Following the death of her husband five years ago, she moved into the nursing home as she was no longer able to look after herself.
Former St Patrick's Parish Priest Mick MacAndrew said the family had been involved in the community for generations.
He said: "They were a very devoted family here, going back to her own parents.
"She was at daily mass when she was well before she went into Yallambee (Lodge)."
The Snowy Monaro regional council said it is supporting its staff, residents and families “during this difficult time”.
Josh Pallas, president of the New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties, asked for police to stop using tasers on vulnerable people following the incident.
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"Police overreach and disproportionality are common themes we see repeating over multiple incidents in NSW," Pallas said.
He continued: "Surely, there must be more appropriate ways to deal with non-compliant people who are suffering."
In February a review was released by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission examining 210 incidents involving the use of force by New South Wales police officers between May 2020 and May 2021.
It found tasers were used during 16 incidents.
The commission said in the report this was “relatively infrequently”.