Nurse forced to use martial arts to take down violent patient at one of Australia's busiest hospitals

By KYLIE STEVENS, SENIOR BREAKING NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 15:23, 3 August 2026 | Updated: 15:23, 3 August 2026 A 'jiu-jitsu obsessed' nurse has recalled how he wrestled an intoxicated patient to the ground inside a busy hospital emergency department. Daniel Nelson has shared CCTV from the incident at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital almost two years ago to call out violence against healthcare workers. The footage showed the registered nurse escorting out a patient who had been asked to leave the hospital after he abused staff. The man turned around and threw an object at Mr Nelson before charging at him. Mr Nelson's instincts and love for martial arts then took over. He managed to overpower the patient and restrained him on the ground until security officers and hospital colleagues came to his aid. 'In a stroke of genius, he decided he wanted a cuddle,' Mr Nelson wrote. 'Safe to say... it didn't work out the way he expected. I don't think he anticipated the nurse having an obsession with jiu jitsu for over 10 years. Daniel Nelson shared CCTV from the incident at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital almost two years ago to call out violence against healthcare workers. The registered nurse managed to overpower the patient and restrained him on the ground 'I laughed about it then and now because I was able to defend myself.' 'But what if he'd picked a nurse half my size? A new graduate? A student? Someone who simply couldn't defend themselves?' Mr Nelson described violence against healthcare workers as 'unacceptable', adding that no one goes to work expecting to be assaulted.  More than 16,000 violent incidents against hospital healthcare workers were recorded across the state last year, according to the Nurses Professional Association Queensland. 'Nurses, doctors, paramedics and other healthcare workers are there to help people -even those who are intoxicated or making poor decisions,' Mr Nelson wrote. 'That should never come with the expectation of being abused or attacked. 'Violence against healthcare workers isn't 'just part of the job.' It's unacceptable. Alcohol is no excuse. 'To all my colleagues who continue to show up despite this sort of behaviour: I see you, and I appreciate what you do every day.' Daniel Nelson shared the footage to call out violence against healthcare workers A man, now 28, was charged with one count of serious assault public officer performing their function and later fined $450, The Courier Mail reported. It's understood Mr Nelson was on a 12-month contract at Metro North Health at the time and currently does not work at the hospital.  The footage has since been viewed more than 1.3million times.