A 24 year-old Iranian asylum seeker, Hamid Kehazaei, who was urgently medivacced from Manus Island to Brisbane on Wednesday, 27 August has been declared to be ‘brain dead’.
By the time Hamid was medivacced to Brisbane, he was suffering septicaemia, from an infection spreading from a cut foot, and went directly into intensive care in the Mater hospital. He had sought medical attention for days on Manus Island for the pain and the infection.
A couple of days ago, he suffered a heart attack and yesterday (Tuesday, 2 September), the Immigration Department and the hospital told the family that Hamid was confirmed as ‘brain dead’. He remains on life support.
The hospital has told the family that a ‘guardian’ will be appointed at ‘some stage’ to decide on the withdrawal of life support. The family has indicated that they are willing for Hamid’s organs to be donated if that is possible.
Hamid was among the first of the asylum seekers transferred to Manus Island by the then Rudd Labor government in September 2013.
On Sunday or Monday, P block in Foxtrot compound, where Hamid and 140 others had been living, was evacuated and closed.
“Hamid is a victim of the shocking conditions and medical neglect on Manus Island. It is inexcusable that he developed septicaemia on Manus Island,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
“Once again, Scott Morrison is responsible for a death on Manus Island. There are scores of infections on Manus Island, and many complaints of the lack of medical attention. Asylum seekers on Manus Island are often forced to walk through raw sewage.
“Nothing more obviously reveals Manus Island as a unhygienic hell-hole that must be closed.”
Below is a letter signed by Manus Island detainees accusing IHMS as responsible for the death of Hamid.
A vigil has been called for Thursday 4 September, 12 noon at Mater Hospital, South Brisbane.
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713.
