Teenager dies after being found unresponsive in Australian prison
Sydney, Oct 20 : A 16-year-old teenager died in hospital about a week after being found unresponsive at the Casuarina Prison in Western Australia (WA).
“I confirm the passing of a 16-year-old boy in Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital after he was found unresponsive inside Unit 18 last Thursday,” WA Premier Roger Cook said on Friday, expressing his condolences to the bereaved family.
The WA Corruption and Crime Commission also noted in a statement that an investigation has commenced into an allegation of serious misconduct at the maximum-security prison for male prisoners.
On October 12, the teenager was found unconscious during routine checks at around 2:00 a.m. local time. Officers began resuscitation before the arrival of three paramedic teams.
The 16-year-old was taken to hospital, where he remained in a critical condition.
The teenager died shortly after 10:00 p.m. local time on Thursday.
Unit 18 at the Casuarina Prison was opened as a temporary juvenile facility in July 2022 to house disruptive male detainees, after riots at the state’s only detention center for offenders aged 10 to 17 years, Banksia Hill, damaged cells and other infrastructure.
