Hospital visitors left terrified after Grim Reaper figure spotted on roof

For patients arriving at hospital, the last thing anyone expects to see is a hooded figure resembling the Grim Reaper watching from above. But that’s exactly what unfolded at a North Wales hospital, leaving visitors, staff and families shaken before police were called to the scene. What should have been a routine day at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Hospital in St Asaph quickly turned into an unsettling spectacle after reports of a dark-clad figure standing on the roof overlooking the hospital entrance.

The incident sparked concern among those arriving for appointments and visiting loved ones, with emergency services responding after the figure refused to come down. The bizarre episode has since ended in court, where the man admitted causing a nuisance on NHS premises. While no one was physically harmed, the incident has raised questions about security at hospitals and the impact such stunts can have on vulnerable patients already dealing with illness, anxiety and grief.

Hooded figure spotted on hospital roof

The man was later identified as 26-year-old Leon Gillespie, from Deganwy, North Wales. Witnesses reported seeing Gillespie dressed in a long black hooded outfit while carrying what appeared to be a large scythe. Standing high above the hospital entrance, the figure immediately drew comparisons with the Grim Reaper, a symbol traditionally associated with death.

According to reports presented in court, Gillespie remained on the roof for around 50 minutes, overlooking the entrance as patients, visitors and NHS staff looked on. The unusual sight prompted an emergency response, with four police vehicles and a fire service crew attending the hospital before officers eventually persuaded him to come down.

Claimed it was meant to be a crow

Despite the widespread reaction, Gillespie later claimed the outfit had been misunderstood. Appearing before Llandudno Magistrates’ Court, he said the costume was intended to resemble a crow rather than the Grim Reaper. However, prosecutors said the appearance of the figure, combined with the object he was carrying, caused genuine alarm among people at the hospital.

The court heard that officers instructed Gillespie to leave the premises, but he failed to comply before eventually being removed from the roof. He later pleaded guilty to causing a nuisance on NHS premises and refusing to leave when directed by police.

Court hands down fine

Magistrates fined Gillespie £200 and ordered him to pay £50 in compensation along with £100 in prosecution costs. During the same hearing, he also admitted two unrelated shoplifting offences.

While the financial penalty was relatively modest, the case has attracted widespread attention because of the unusual nature of the incident and the location where it took place. Hospitals are places where many people are dealing with life-changing diagnoses, serious illness or the loss of loved ones. Seeing a figure widely associated with death overlooking the entrance was understandably distressing for many who witnessed it.

Why the incident struck such a nerve

Although there is no suggestion Gillespie intended to physically harm anyone, the symbolism of the costume made the incident particularly unsettling. Hospitals are environments where patients and families are often experiencing some of the most emotional moments of their lives. For those arriving for cancer treatment, emergency care or to visit critically ill relatives, the appearance of a figure resembling the Grim Reaper was bound to provoke concern.

The incident also draws attention the challenges hospitals face in protecting large, open sites that welcome thousands of visitors each week while maintaining public safety. Fortunately, the situation was brought under control without injury, and emergency services were able to resolve the incident peacefully.

For those who witnessed it, however, it is unlikely to be forgotten anytime soon. What began as an ordinary day at one of North Wales’ busiest hospitals ended with police, firefighters and a court appearance, after a rooftop stunt left patients wondering whether what they were seeing was real.