Inmate told medical staff of spider bite before he died, just days away from release

An inmate at a Sydney prison told staff he had been bitten by a spider. He later died at hospital and his death sparked a “protest” inside the prison.

Pictured is Parklea Correctional Centre in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

An Indigenous inmate told medical staff inside a Sydney prison that he had been bitten by a spider, and was suffering from severe chest pain before dying in hospital, just days before his release.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Aboriginal man, Wayne Green, 41, reported being bitten by a spider inside Parklea Correctional Centre to medical staff before dying in Westmead Hospital around 10pm on June 27.

Sources told this masthead the inmate had been receiving treatment for chest pain by St Vincent hospital staff, the private health provider inside Parklea, in the days leading up to a “catastrophic” decline in his health.

“The inmate was receiving treatment for chest pain before reporting the spider bite,” the source said.

Parklea Correctional Centre in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

“We know that medical staff were alerted to the spider bite on the 27th of June.”

NSW Police sources suggested the spider bite may have occurred two weeks before Green’s death, with investigators now awaiting the results of toxicology reports before a cause of death can be determined.

It is understood the inmate was due to be released from custody on July 11.

A spokeswoman for the private operators of the prison, MTC Broadspectrum confirmed the 41-year-old died at Westmead Hospital on Friday.

“The man had been transferred from Parklea Correctional Centre to hospital at about 12.55pm for treatment,” she said.

“MTC extends our sympathies to his family, friends and the wider Aboriginal community.

“We are working with Corrective Services NSW and NSW Police, who investigate all deaths in custody regardless of the circumstances.

“As the matter will be subject to a coronial inquest, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

Parklea Correctional Centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

The Daily Telegraph revealed on Saturday a “protest” had broken out as a result of the death.

“After a period of negotiation, the majority of inmates were voluntarily secured in their cells,” the MTC spokeswoman said.

“A small number of inmate representatives then spoke with centre management.”

Inmate advocate Jo Scriven told The Daily Telegraph the questions needed to be raised by NSW Police over the “treatment provided to the inmate, and probed against the crimes administration act”.

“This is a real medical issue that must be examined,” she said.

The operators of the prison and CSNSW were contacted for comment.

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Originally published as Inmate told medical staff of spider bite before he died, just days away from release