Daniel Nelson: Jiu-Jitsu ‘obsessed’ nurse takes down violent man in Brisbane hospital

Footage has emerged of a hero nurse after he took down an allegedly violent male in the emergency department of an Australian hospital. 

Headshot of Katherine Kraayvanger
Katherine Kraayvanger
The Nightly
A Brisbane nurse has been forced to use his jiu-jitsu black belt skills to restrain an allegedly abusive patient who attacked him inside a hospital emergency department.

A self-confessed Jiu-Jitsu obsessed nurse is being lauded as a hero after video emerged of him taking down an allegedly violent male in the emergency department of an Australian hospital.

Daniel Nelson was working at the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital when he was filmed walking a patient out of the emergency department.

As the man exits the sliding doors, he is pictured attacking Mr Nelson, but likely didn’t expect what was coming next.

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WATCH THE FOOTAGE IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

In an incredible display of strength and skill, Mr Nelson flips the man on his back and pins him to the floor, and manages to restrain him until security arrive.

The nurse alleges the man was “spitting on the floor, abusing staff and generally behaving like an absolute grub” before he was asked to leave the emergency department.

“I opted to escort him out and grab a cheeky coffee from the coffee van parked out front while I was out there,” Mr Nelson described.

“In a stroke of genius he decided he wanted a cuddle. . .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.”

As the man exits the sliding doors, he is pictured attacking Mr Nelson, but likely didn’t expect what was coming next.
As the man exits the sliding doors, he is pictured attacking Mr Nelson, but likely didn’t expect what was coming next. Credit: Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital

Mr Nelson says being intoxicated is “no excuse” for violence against medical workers, who are often put at physical risk by patients while trying to treat them.

“(Work) should never come with the expectation of being abused or attacked,” he said.

“Violence against healthcare workers isn’t ‘just part of the job,’ it’s unacceptable.

“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.”

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