A 47-year-old prisoner escaped from a hospital intensive care unit in northern Greece after being admitted for a heart attack, authorities said, triggering a large-scale search and an inquiry into security measures.

The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, when the inmate fled from the ICU of a major hospital where he was being treated under police guard following a cardiac episode.

According to initial reports, the man managed to escape under circumstances that remain under investigation. Despite his recent heart attack, he allegedly opened a window in his ICU room, climbed onto a nearby balcony, and left the hospital परिसर unnoticed.

A police officer who realized the escape chased the suspect through the hospital grounds, reaching as far as the facility’s cafeteria. However, the officer was unable to apprehend him. Witness accounts indicate the man was still connected to IV tubes as he ran.

Authorities have launched an ongoing operation to locate the fugitive, while officials are also examining whether there were failures in the security arrangements that allowed the escape to occur.

The case has raised concerns over the supervision of detainees receiving medical treatment, particularly in high-risk hospital settings.