Asylum seeker kept alive in Sydney hospital in unprecedented case

A WOULD-BE asylum seeker from Iran has staged a seven-month hunger strike at a western Sydney hospital that has so far cost taxpayers $300,000.

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A WOULD-BE asylum seeker from Iran has staged a seven-month hunger strike at a western Sydney hospital that has so far cost taxpayers $300,000.

Omid Bagheri Jebeli, 23, was brought to the emergency department of Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital from Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in April.

It is understood he had been on a hunger strike for several days while in detention before he was transferred to the hospital.

Mr Jebeli is being kept alive at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital.

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Mr Jebeli’s hunger strike is ­believed to have begun after his mother and sister were granted community detention while their refugee application was processed but he was refused a request to live outside Villawood while his case was investigated.

He has occupied a bed at the hospital since and is being kept alive by doctors who are feeding him intravenously.

The unprecedented situation has led to a $300,000 medical bill that is being paid for by taxpayers.

NSW Greens staged a vigil at the hospital for Mr Jebeli.

General manager Peter Rophail said the Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Border Protection was responsible for Mr Jebeli’s care costs.

It is understood Mr Jebeli’s condition has deteriorated significantly since April and he is being kept alive with IV fluids and fed via a nasal gastric tube.

The hospital’s general manager Peter Rophail confirmed staff have been treating a patient on a “self-imposed hunger strike”.

“The Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Border Protection is responsible for costs of the healthcare provided to this patient,” Mr Rophail said.

Mr Jebeli was taken from Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in April. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“Due to patient confidentiality we are unable to comment further on the patient’s condition or care.”

In May, NSW Greens staged a vigil at the hospital for Mr Jebeli, claiming he had been granted refugee status but kept in ­detention.

They attempted to justify his hunger strike, saying he was “left without options”.

The Australian Border Force could not say if there were plans in place to either have Mr Jebeli returned to detention or deported.

A spokeswoman for NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said: “The minister supports the dedicated nursing and medical staff at this public hospital who are providing lifesaving care.”