Ivan Milat fed Weet Bix as he receives treatment in prison-like hospital ward

Serial killer Ivan Milat (pictured) is currently receiving treatment for weight loss in a Sydney hospital

Notorious serial killer Ivan Milat’s was tempted away from his hunger strike with a scrambled eggs, Weetbix and toast breakfast served to him inside the high-security hospital ward he is currently being treated in.

Milat, 74, was served a meal of cereal, toast and an orange juice at Prince of Wales Hospital on Wednesday, after being taken there from Goulburn’s Supermax prison for medical treatment.

The backpacker killer is being treated for organ failure, believed to be related to anorexia, in the purpose-built secure unit, on the public hospital’s ninth floor.

The east ward – which contains steel doors and gates, and better resembles a prison – is used for maximum security prisoners in need of medical attention.

While the public rooms have views over Coogee beach, when Milat looks outside his hospital window he can see only prison bars – the same view the killer has faced in jail for the past 25 years.

 

Milat, 74, is being held in the 'secure unit' (pictured) at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney's east, specifically designed to house maximum security prisoners in need of medical attention

Milat, 74, is being held in the ‘secure unit’ (pictured) at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney’s east, specifically designed to house maximum security prisoners in need of medical attention

The secure unit - which is operated by Corrective Services NSW - is shut off to the public and can only be accessed via this door, which is operated by a security guard watching on CCTV

The secure unit – which is operated by Corrective Services NSW – is shut off to the public and can only be accessed via this door, which is operated by a security guard watching on CCTV 

From the outside the ninth floor is easily identifiable by the steel mesh cage with encloses the balcony. CCTV cameras and bars across the windows are among additional security measures

From the outside the ninth floor is easily identifiable by the steel mesh cage with encloses the balcony. CCTV cameras and bars across the windows are among additional security measures

A hospital employee told Daily Mail Australia it was quite ‘creepy’ and ‘surreal’ to have such a violent criminal in their midst.

‘We found out on Sunday that he was likely to be coming here and it was a real shock to have someone so infamous here,’ one nurse said.

‘Where he’s being held is essentially like another prison. They are always handcuffed and if they are being transferred in and out they are shackled at the feet too.

‘Someone like Milat won’t be under his real name either. They normally get a random name or just a number, but with him everyone knows who it is.

‘It’s secure just like a prison, but I guess with someone like him it is a bit creepy.’

Milat was jailed in 1996 after being convicted of murdering seven backpackers in the Belanglo State Forest, south of Sydney, between 1989 and 1992. 

He has spent most most of the last two-and-a-half decades in Goulburn’s Supermax prison, the strictest in Australia.

But he made a rare journey out of the prison on Monday after reportedly losing close to 20 kilograms following a series of hunger strikes while behind bars. 

Both inside and out, the east ward of the hospital’s ninth floor is remarkably different to the rest.

The ward is completely shut off to the public by a large door which is always locked. 

Behind the reinforced walls and steer door is a hospital ward that better resembles a prison

Behind the reinforced walls and steer door is a hospital ward that better resembles a prison

The specially designed hospital ward features reinforced walls, security doors, steel lined ceilings and gates, anti-suicide fittings and constant monitoring

The specially designed hospital ward features reinforced walls, security doors, steel lined ceilings and gates, anti-suicide fittings and constant monitoring

Large signs on the walls outside the door explain that the rules of entry mirror those of a NSW prison

Large signs on the walls outside the door explain that the rules of entry mirror those of a NSW prison

On the menu for breakfast on Wednesday was Weebtix, scrambled eggs, toast

On the menu for breakfast on Wednesday was Weebtix, scrambled eggs, toast

Nurses, doctors and prison guards can only access the area by ringing the intercom and having entry approved by a security guard, who is constantly watching the door on CCTV cameras from the other side.   

Large signs on the walls outside the door explain that the rules of entry mirror those of a NSW prison.

Behind the door is a specially designed hospital ward with reinforced walls, security doors, steel lined ceilings and gates, anti-suicide fittings and constant monitoring.   

From the street, the east ward is clearly distinguishable by the completely closed-in balcony which has a steel mesh cage running from floor to ceiling.

CCTV cameras and barred windows are also visible when looking through the cage.

Prisoners are fed the same standard hospital food as others undergoing treatment.

On the menu on Wednesday morning was Weetbix and milk, jam and butter on white bread, orange juice and tea or coffee.

Milat’s breakfast was decided without his input and he was given the coffee.   

MILAT’S MURDERS 

Between 1989 and 1992 seven young backpackers went missing while hitch-hiking on the outskirts of Sydney, New South Wales.

Their bodies were all discovered in the Belanglo State Forest, near Bowral, south of Sydney, and found to be victims of serial killer Ivan Milat.

The victims were:

Victorians Deborah Everist and James Gibson, both 19, who were last seen in December 1989, and who were each stabbed multiple times.

German Simone Schmidl, 20, who disappeared in January 1991 and died from multiple stab wounds, including a knife through her spinal cord.

German Gabor Neugebauer, 21, who was gagged and shot six times and his 20-year-old girlfriend Anja Habschied, who was decapitated after they disappeared in January 1992.

Britons Caroline Clarke, 21, who was shot 10 times as if she was target practice and Joanne Walters, 22, who was stabbed. Last seen in April 1992.

Ivan Milat received seven life sentences for the murders and will die in Goulburn’s Supermax prison.

Milat has a long history of going on hunger strikes when his demands are not met.

In 2011, he lost 25kg after he was denied a PlayStation gaming console to use while in prison.

Milat’s health has deteriorated in recent years due to a number of age-related illnesses and he has been seen by several medical specialists.

Despite reports that Milat may never return to jail, a source told Daily Mail Australia that the backpacker killer is expected to return to Goulburn ‘within days’. 

NSW Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin told Seven News: ‘We’ve got specialist teams to ensure that at any time there is absolute guarantee of safety and security, both in the context of the person but also the context of the environment that the person has to be in for a period of time.

‘You can be rest assured it is done in the most secure and safe way possible.’  

Mr Severin added that those in charge of transporting Milat are highly trained and extensive planning had been carried out to ensure he was moved safely.

Milat has left the prison on just two other occasions – once in 2001 for a court appearance and once in 2009 when he cut off his finger. 

He stabbed most of his victims – decapitating one whose head has never been found – and shot another 10 times in the head as if using her for target practice.

He was also questioned in 2004 about the disappearance of two nurses at Parramatta in 1980 when he was working at the nearby Granville depot of the then Department of Main Roads.

In 2006 Milat was named by police at an inquest as the person most likely to have killed a schoolgirl and her boyfriend who disappeared from northern Sydney in 1978.

Serial killer Ivan Milat (pictured) is being treated for anorexia after he lost 20kg during hunger strikes while behind bars

Serial killer Ivan Milat (pictured) is being treated for anorexia after he lost 20kg during hunger strikes while behind bars

He is being treated for possible organ failure caused by geriatric anorexia

He is being treated for possible organ failure caused by geriatric anorexia

Milat will be held in a secure annex of the hospital (pictured) that's been specially designed to hold dangerous prisoners

Milat will be held in a secure annex of the hospital (pictured) that’s been specially designed to hold dangerous prisoners

Milat has a long history of going on hunger strikes when his demands are not met.

In 2011, he lost 25kg after he was denied a PlayStation gaming console to use while in prison.

Milat’s health has deteriorated in recent years due to a number of age-related illnesses and he has been seen by several medical specialists. 

Despite reports that Milat may never return to jail, a source told Daily Mail Australia that the backpacker killer is expected to return to Goulburn ‘within days’. 

Milat will be treated in a secure annex at the Prince of Wales Hospital designed to hold maximum security prisoners.

While in the hospital Milat will be under constant supervision by at least two armed guards.

NSW Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin told Seven News: ‘We’ve got specialist teams to ensure that at any time there is absolute guarantee of safety and security, both in the context of the person but also the context of the environment that the person has to be in for a period of time.

‘You can be rest assured it is done in the most secure and safe way possible.’  

Deborah Everist was among Ivan Milat's seven victims. Everist, 19, died after being stabbed multiple times

Anja Habschied was among Ivan Milat's seven victims. Habschied, 20, was decapitated

Deborah Everist (left) and Anja Habschied (right) were among Ivan Milat’s seven victims. Everist, 19, died after being stabbed multiple times. Habschied, 20, was decapitated 

Joanne Walters, 22, was stabbed to death by Ivan Milat

Caroline Clarke, 21, was shot 10 times as if she was target practice

Joanne Walters, 22, (left) was stabbed to death by Ivan Milat. Her friend Caroline Clarke, 21, (right) was shot 10 times as if she was target practice. The pair disappeared in April, 1992 

Mr Severin added that those in charge of transporting Milat are highly trained and extensive planning had been carried out to ensure he was moved safely.

Milat has left the prison on just two other occasions – once in 2001 for a court appearance and once in 2009 when he cut off his finger.

He is currently serving seven life sentences, which are all to be served consecutively and without the posibility of parole.

Milat stabbed most of his seven victims – decapitating one whose head has never been found – and shot another 10 times in the head as if using her for target practice. 

In 2006 Milat was named by police at an inquest as the person most likely to have killed a schoolgirl and her boyfriend who disappeared from northern Sydney in 1978.

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk