South Africa: Oscar Pistorius on suicide watch after claiming nurses gave him 'toxic' medication

Former Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has been placed on a suicide watch list after he was rushed to hospital earlier in August with injuries to his wrists. Pistorius is serving a six-year-long sentence for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot dead at Pistorius' home in South Africa on 14 February 2013.

Pistorius denied he had tried to kill himself and his family insisted he had sustained the injuries after falling. His brother Carl also denied reports of self-harm, saying the former athlete was "in good spirit".

"Pistorius has told authorities that he was on his stumps in his cell on Friday night when he slipped in water on the floor and sustained cuts and bruises from broken coffee mugs," according to eNews Channel Africa. He was also said to have several other injuries including facial bruising.

However, a prisoner alleged that Pistorius had cut himself and local media reports claimed that blades were found in the convicted killer's cell.

A psychologist's report for his murder trial said Pistorius was at risk of committing suicide and "his condition is likely to worsen" if he did not receive professional help.

The former athlete also alleged that three nurses at the Kgosi Mampuru Prison, Pretoria, tried to kill him by giving him medication he claimed was "toxic", the City Press newspaper reported.

A member of the prison stated that Pistorius had been refusing to take any medication offered by the nurses.

It is believed Pistorius also requested to be transferred to the Zonderwater Prison in the east of Pretoria, but his requested was denied.

Pistorius originally served 10 months of a five-and-a-half-year sentence after being found guilty of the culpable homicide of his girlfriend Steenkamp at his home. The conviction was later upgraded to murder following an appeal by prosecutors.