It was meant to be a night of celebration for cartoonist Jason Chatfield but it ended in hospital after he was dragged along a city street by a taxi and hauled, limp, to safety by his panicked girlfriend.

Chatfield, 26, was admitted to emergency at The Alfred hospital early yesterday after attending the launch of a friend's new stage show.

Jason Chatfield and his famous mate. Credit:Canberra Times

His efforts to get home ended in near disaster about 3.20am yesterday when a cab driver refused the fare because it was "too close" and sped off while his arm was trapped in the passenger side door.

"My girlfriend seems to think it was my watch band that got caught," he said, nursing serious injuries to his head, his left shoulder, arm and hand.