Australian nurse uses jiu‑jitsu to subdue violent patient at Royal Brisbane Hospital

CCTV footage released in 2026 shows Australian registered nurse Daniel Nelson, who has ten years of jiu‑jitsu training, restraining an intoxicated patient who assaulted him at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital emergency department in October 2024. The incident occurred around 2 a.m.; Nelson wrestled the patient to the floor and held him for about a minute until help arrived.

The video sparked a response from the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union, which highlighted that assaults on health workers have risen to become the second leading cause of hospitalisations among healthcare staff, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The union called for stronger safety measures and better protection for nurses and other health professionals in hospitals.

The case underscores growing concerns about workplace violence in Australian health settings and has prompted calls for improved security and occupational‑violence prevention training.