Prisoner escapes from hospital after assaulting officers, stealing car - police

A prisoner that escaped Waikato Hospital after allegedly assaulting two corrections officers and carjacking a vehicle has been arrested.

Police were notified of a person escaping custody at around 12.30pm Friday.

The 25-year-old managed to break free from custodial staff during an offsite specialist medical appointment, before reportedly stealing a car from hospital parking and fleeing, detective inspector Darrell Harpur said.

A manhunt began with the Eagle helicopter tracking the offender until ground staff successfully spiked the vehicle on Cambridge Road, Leamington around 3.40pm.

The car came to a stop off Cambridge Road about five minutes later, before the man was taken into custody.

He is now due to appear in the Hamilton District Court on Saturday, and is facing a number of serious charges.

"This was a rapidly evolving incident, and I would like to commend staff who swiftly formulated and executed a plan to locate and arrest the man involved before further people were brought in harm's way," Harpur said.

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