Death in Tasmanian prison after reports man 'unresponsive' in cell
Posted , updated
Police say reception prison staff reported the incident around 11am on Sunday. (ABC News: Loretta Lohberger)
In short
A man was found unresponsive in his cell at the Hobart Reception Centre just before 11am on Sunday.
Tasmania Police says efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
Police are investigating, while a professional standards investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding the death.
A 23-year-old man has died while being held in custody at the Hobart Reception Centre, Tasmania Police said.
Police said prison staff alerted them to the man's death after they found him unresponsive in his cell just before 11am on Sunday.
Tasmania Police Assistant Commissioner Doug Oosterloo said the deceased man was from New Norfolk, north of Hobart.
He had been arrested on Saturday in relation to a wounding incident in Claremont the day before, and was transferred to the Hobart Reception Centre about 5:30pm, police said.
The New Norfolk man had been in custody for one night before being found unresponsive. (ABC News: Luke Bowden)
"Ambulance Tasmania crews were called, Hobart uniform police attended and Hobart reception prison staff all attempted to revive the man," Assistant Commissioner Oosterloo said.
"But tragically those attempts were unsuccessful."
Assistant Commissioner Oosterloo said forensic specialists, detectives from Tasmania Police's professional standards unit and the coroner had attended the scene.
"The professional standards investigation includes examining CCTV footage at Hobart Reception, records and interviewing all witnesses, and that is information that will come out in the investigation," he said.
Tasmania Prison Service acting director Tristan Bell said the service would not comment further, with the matter being referred to the coroner.
"On behalf of the Tasmania Prison Service, I extend my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased man at this difficult time,"
Mr Bell said.
Claremont incident 'targeted', police say
On Friday about 5am, police responded to reports of an assault at a home on Curlew Parade, Claremont, which they believe to be a targeted incident.
Police said they were told two people had entered the residence and assaulted two occupants.
A man his 20s was shot in the hip and is now in hospital in a serious condition.
The other occupant, a woman in her 20s, was reportedly struck multiple times with the side of an axe.
She received medical treatment but was not hospitalised, police said.
Police did not confirm what role the deceased man was alleged to have played, if any, in the incident.
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