‘Outer Banks’ Star Austin North Arrested After Attacking Hospital Workers: “The Most Extreme Panic Attack I’ve Ever Had”

Austin North is “deeply upset” by what transpired at a hospital in Las Vegas this week, and what ultimately led to him being arrested.

The actor was arrested for gross misdemeanor battery on Tuesday night (Feb. 13) at University Medical Center (UMC) Hospital after he reportedly attacked “a couple of nurses and a phlebotomist” on staff in the emergency room, per police reports secured by TMZ.

The reports detail that he supposedly “punched a nurse in the head, shoved the face of another nurse and pushed the phlebotomist into a table.” The phlebotomist allegedly then hit North in the head with a tray in order to defend themself. In addition to the nurses and phlebotomist, he reportedly attacked another employee whose role in the hospital was “unclear” in the report.

North was ultimately handcuffed to a gurney and arrested, but has since been bailed out.

North, who said that he’s “deeply upset by the events that took place in Las Vegas this past week,” explained in an Instagram story post shared on Thursday (Feb. 15) that his “friend” had driven him there because North “thought [he] was having a heart attack,” per Entertainment Weekly.

“Several tests were taken, including blood, which came back negative for any drugs or alcohol in my system. I was having a severe anxiety attack,” he clarified.

Noting that he has “very little memory of the events that day in the hospital,” he highlighted that he has “the utmost respect for healthcare workers and hospital staff.”

“I have battled anxiety on and off for years and this was the most extreme panic attack I’ve ever had,” he added. “Going forward, I hope to shed light on this debilitating disorder and send hope to those who have struggled.”

Decider reached out to representatives for North, but did not hear back by time of publication.

When reached for comment by E! News, UMC’s Public Relations Director, Scott Kerb, told the outlet that they “cannot share details about specific patient interactions, in order to protect patient privacy,” but said that they “can comment that violence against health care professionals, our community heroes who devote their careers to helping others, is always reprehensible.”

North, who had been in Las Vegas for the Super Bowl, also took to Instagram this week to share about his “amazing Super Bowl experience,” per People.

North stars as Topper on Outer Banks, the Netflix teen drama which was renewed for a fourth season last February, only a few days prior to its Season 3 release. North most recently appeared in the rom-com Beautiful Wedding starring Dylan Sprouse and Virginia Gardner, per IMDb.