Around a dozen police cars and several officers covered the entrance to Great Western Hospital on Monday afternoon.

Part of the A4259 Marlborough Road carriageway heading towards Coate was coned off to accommodate a sizeable police presence as many vehicles with blue lights flashing parked up along the roadside and on the approach to the hospital's car park at around 4.45pm on July 15.

Some of the special units at the scene included police dogs, armed response teams, and an unmarked police vehicle with flashing red lights.

Though no cordon was put in place, officers stood guard at various points around the deep lake and kept an eye on their surroundings while the dogs searched the dense shrubs, trees and foliage around the lakeside.

At around 5.40pm, shouts could be heard coming from corner of the lake near the staff parking area on Waterside Way, and officers came running in response.

 

Moments later, several officers appeared carrying a man with black hair wearing black joggers and a grey-brown top towards the police van. 

Police left the scene at around 5.55pm after the police van drove away with its new passenger.

A Wiltshire Police spokesperson said: "We arrested a 24-year-old man at Coate Water in Swindon shortly before 6pm on July 15 after he had absconded from police officers.

"The man briefly escaped from officers who were taking him back to custody following his discharge from Great Western Hospital.

"A search involving a range of police assets, including drone and dog units, was carried out and the wanted man was rapidly located and detained.

"He was further arrested on suspicion of assault on an emergency worker and escape from lawful custody."