The mentally unwell patient was quickly sedated by doctors, but for the burly security officer, it drove home the dangers of his job as colleagues called for more trained staff.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park on Wednesday announced some 130 full-time security guards would be recruited across 27 hospitals throughout Australia's biggest public healthcare system.
"There is simply no excuse for people to behave in a way that threatens our staff, our patients, and our visitors," he told reporters.
"What we cannot tolerate or accept is our healthcare workers being used as punching bags."
The frontline security staff boost comes after a string of violent incidents at various hospitals with Mr Park noting larger hospitals, with bigger volumes of people coming through, tend to be hotspots.
The minister identified said the use of drugs including methamphetamines and mental health presentations have made hospitals "a microcosm to what is happening in the community."
"Having additional boots on the ground, having additional security in place, will go some way, not eliminate, to reducing the impact," Mr Park said.
Mr Rowling, who works at Royal North Shore Hospital, welcomed the extra support where a team of just four security officers cover more than 650 beds for patients plus staff and visitors.
"It's like a mini Westfield almost ... we definitely need more security officers," he said, adding that training was necessary for all staff.
Mr Park confirmed that as recently as Tuesday, a clinical staffer at Concord Hospital suffered a broken wrist after an incident involving a patient who has been detained.
In October, Raymond James Dungay allegedly doused three patients with petrol before Âsetting one alight at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick.
Earlier in February, Luke Peter Francis reportedly fled Bankstown Hospital in Sydney's southwest four days after he was released from prison on parole.
The 31-year-old allegedly threatened a nurse before taking an access card and escaping.
His escape happened a day after Setefano Mooniai Leaaetoa also absconded from Cumberland Hospital.
The 25-year-old was arrested after allegedly killing one person and injuring two others in a stabbing attack in Merrylands.
Leaaetoa is believed to have run from a health transfer vehicle while being moved to Westmead from the mental health facility.
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