A 95-year-old woman with dementia was tasered by officers after staff at her aged care home called NSW Police over fears she was wielding a knife.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT TASERING INCIDENT:

CLARE NOWLAND

A 95-year-old grandmother, standing about 155cm and weighing 43kg.

Well-known in the Cooma community, including for skydiving on her 80th birthday.

Recently been suffering from dementia.

THE INCIDENT

Mrs Nowland is found with a serrated steak knife in the early hours of Wednesday.

Staff at Cooma’s Yallambee Lodge call paramedics and police, who arrived in that order.

Two police officers, each with more than 10 years experience, activate their body cameras.

A negotiation begins in small treatment room where Mrs Nowland was found. Paramedics and staff try to “de-escalate the matter”, police say.

Mrs Nowland moves at a slow pace towards the doorway where the officers are standing and is hit once with a Taser.

She falls, striking her head on the ground. Medical attention occurs immediately.

THE AFTERMATH

Mrs Nowland’s family are maintaining a vigil by her hospital bed. Her condition is critical.

The senior constable who fired the Taser has been stood aside from operational duties.

Homicide squad detectives are involved in the police’s critical incident investigation.

WHAT’S BEEN SAID

“At the time she was tasered, she was approaching police – but it is fair to say at a slow pace. She had a walking frame but she had a knife.” – Assistant Commissioner Peter Cotter.

“I understand and share the community concerns and assure you that we are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness.” – Police Commissioner Karen Webb

“We have received calls and emails from people living with dementia, their families and carers expressing their anger and sadness for Ms Nowland and her family.” – Dementia Australia

“This has to be the turning point for policing in NSW. An internal investigation is simply not good enough.” Greens MP Sue Higginson

Source: NSW Police