Death of Kristian Periš at psychiatric clinic: new footage and testimonies
32-year-old Kristian Josip Periš died in October at the Sveti Ivan psychiatric clinic in Zagreb. Four healthcare technicians are in investigative custody; former patients describe violence.
Death at psychiatric clinic Zagreb: testimonies, footage and arrests
The death of 32-year-old former athlete Kristian Josip Periš, who died on 21 October at the Sveti Ivan psychiatric clinic in Zagreb's Jankomir district, continues to shock Croatia. Slovenian news outlets are reporting on new details that have emerged following the release of security camera footage and police reports.
Arrest of four healthcare technicians
Croatian authorities have remanded four healthcare technicians in investigative custody on suspicion of aggravated manslaughter of a particularly vulnerable person. According to investigators' findings, they physically restrained Periš even after he had stopped resisting.
The incident occurred between 20.02 and 20.12 in room 1A on the male ward of integrative psychiatry. Periš was strapped to the bed with safety belts around his arms, legs and chest. In his mental distress, he attempted to free himself and stand up. Security camera footage shows three healthcare technicians pressing him down on the bed with their hands, whilst a fourth tightened the belts. One allegedly pressed on his face, another placed a pillow on his head, and two reportedly pressed their knees on his neck. They allegedly struck him multiple times on the head and abdomen. Investigators suspect that the restraint continued even after Periš stopped moving. The footage later shows an attempted resuscitation. Death was officially confirmed at 21.26.
Hospital admission and final words
Periš was admitted to psychiatric care following police and ambulance intervention. A family member reported to police on 21 October that the 32-year-old was in severe mental distress and had paranoid thoughts. Ambulance workers took him to hospital, where complications arose — medical staff informed police that he was abusive and threatening to employees.
When police officers spoke with the on-duty doctor around 15.23, Periš was sitting on a bench and was not aggressive. Initially, he did not want to enter the hospital. He explained his reason in words that took on a very different meaning after his death: "I don't want to go in, last time you suffocated me and strapped me to the bed. I don't want doctors touching me, I only want to speak to the police." Nevertheless, he agreed to admission and received treatment. Police noted that he cooperated with them and staff during the intervention.
When police returned to the hospital around 17:00, Periš was already strapped to the bed, visibly sedated and disoriented. The on-duty doctor explained to them that they had successfully restrained him and that their assistance was no longer needed. According to the police report, she stated that the patient was not posing a threat to medical staff. A few hours later, he was dead.
Autopsy and injuries
A preliminary autopsy showed numerous injuries: bruising, abrasions, fractures of several ribs and the breastbone, and swelling of the lungs and brain. Some rib fractures can occur during resuscitation, so the autopsy findings alone do not necessarily prove the cause of individual injuries. The final cause of death will have to be confirmed by forensic medical examination.
When relatives noticed bruising around the neck, wounds under the lip and traces of blood during a viewing of the body, the on-duty doctor Silvana Jelavić explained to them that the injuries had occurred during intubation. She also mentioned cardiac arrest as the cause of death.
The deceased's sister told investigators that staff initially did not allow her to view the body when she arrived.
Double tragedy for the family
Periš's death was followed by another tragedy for the family. His fiancée, with whom he was expecting a child, lost the child a few days after his death. This was confirmed by relatives to Croatian outlet Jutarnji list. "They killed another person," they said, convinced that Kristian's death had brought about another tragedy. The family stated that the events and released footage had so shocked them that they had to seek medical help themselves.
Former patients describe violence
Following the release of security camera footage, numerous former patients of the same clinic came forward.
A woman who was on the closed female ward in February sent media outlets a photograph of a patient strapped to a hospital bed wearing only underwear. A blanket lay at the foot of the bed, and the door to the room was open, so the patient was visible from the corridor.
An even more serious incident was described by a man who received treatment on the closed ward in September for alcohol-related problems. According to his account, staff strapped an elderly patient to the bed overnight. Around two o'clock in the morning, the patient fell to the floor, still strapped to the mattress. He allegedly called for help naked for several hours. The witness claims that she knocked on the door multiple times and tried to summon staff, but only employees from another ward responded.
Investigation continues
Croatian portal Index has published new details from police reports. The investigation is ongoing, and it has not yet been determined whether the doctor was fully aware of the details of what happened in the patient's room when she spoke with relatives. Four healthcare technicians remain in investigative custody.
Source: Slovenske novice