Colombian migrant who died at Heathrow detention centre ‘begged to be sent home’
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Colombian man thought to have taken his personal life at a Heathrow immigration elimination centre begged for assist and wished to be taken residence, his household have mentioned.
Frank Ospina, 39, got here to the UK in late 2022 to go to his mom and took a short-term job washing dishes.
He was detained at Heathrow detention centre after an immigration raid in March the place his psychological well being deteriorated and he died.
Speaking to the BBC, his household mentioned he repeatedly requested for assist and was not searching for to keep away from deportation.
His sister, Tatiana Rios Ospina, instructed the broadcaster: “My brother was a civil engineer who graduated from the best public university in Colombia.
“He was hard-working and very intelligent. They took him to the limit of sanity.”
Mr Ospina’s brother-in-law, Julian Llano, added: “He kept insisting that he felt very bad, mentally, that he needed to get out of there.
“He didn’t ask for help – he begged for help, not only to us, but also to the people there.”
The exact circumstances of Mr Ospina’s death on March 26 will be established by a coroner.
According to documents obtained by Liberty Investigates, an “attempted mass suicide” then befell on the centre in protest at circumstances days after Mr Ospina’s dying.
Files obtained by the outlet state that between 4 and 6 detainees tried to kill themselves throughout the protest. Home Office contractor Mitie mentioned custody officers managed to cease the makes an attempt.
A Home Office spokesman mentioned: “Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of Mr Ospina.
“The welfare of all those in our care is of the utmost importance. Any death in immigration detention is a tragic event and will be subject to investigation by the police, the coroner, and the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.”
The newest case at Harmondsworth IRC will heap additional stress on the Home Office over circumstances on the centres, that are prison-like services for asylum seekers or different migrants to be detained till deportation or their standing is in any other case resolved.
The UK has no most restrict on the size of time somebody may be detained, with the only exception of pregnant ladies.
A public inquiry into Brook House, an IRC close to to Gatwick, is because of report subsequent week after a BBC expose revealed alleged situations of abuse and mistreatment of detainees.
An inspection report final 12 months mentioned the ability didn’t meet the psychological well being wants of detainees however Home Office officers mentioned work was ongoing to deal with these considerations.
* Anyone who wants help can name Samaritans freed from cost on 116 123, e mail josamaritans.org, or go to the Samaritans web site.