Family of Manus Island refugee ‘may never know’ mystery behind medical treatment just after critical fall

The family of a refugee who suffered a fatal fall on Manus Island may never know the circumstances behind his medical treatment.

A leading Australian human rights lawyer has made a bombshell claim about the health of a Sudanese refugee who died from a fatal fall on Manus Island, saying the man’s family may never know the answers as to whether he could have received different care.

The devastated family of Faysal Ishak Ahmed have now asked for answers over how their son’s condition deteriorated so quickly after he stumbled and fell on the stairs while in immigration detention on the island nearly a decade ago.

A coronial inquest into the 27-year-old’s death wrapped up in Brisbane earlier this week.

It will take some time for State Coroner Terry Ryan to hand down his findings, but advocacy groups have demanded an end to what they have called a punitive system of cruelty for refugees seeking asylum.

Faysal Ishak Ahmed, a Sudanese refugee on Manus Island, died after suffering critical head injuries from a fall in December 2016. Picture: Supplied

An inquest into Mr Ishak Ahmed’s death has shed some light on the medical treatment he received and attempted to seek prior to the fatal fall. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Josephine Langbien, a senior lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre, said Mr Ishak Ahmed should not have had to accept a lower standard of care while on the island.

“Had he been in the Australian community, he would have had the agency to choose when and where to access specialist care or a second opinion,” Ms Langbien said at the end of the inquest.

“Faysal’s family may never know whether or not he would have collapsed if his symptoms had been treated differently or whether, had he been in Australia, less catastrophic injuries may have resulted.

“The question that can only be answered by the Australian government is why Faysal was on Manus Island at all.”

Ms Langbien said despite insurmountable evidence and first-hand accounts of the “medical neglect” plaguing Australia’s offshore detention policy, the government attempted to “wash its hands” of people like Mr Ishak Ahmed.

“In choosing to send dozens of new arrivals to detention in Nauru, the government has shown that it is prepared to risk further lives,” she said.

“Instead of waiting for the next inquest, the government must shut down offshore detention for good.”

A senior human rights lawyer says Mr Ishak Ahmed’s family may never know whether he would have collapsed if his symptoms had been treated differently or if the scenario would have been different if he were on the Australian mainland. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

One doctor opined the simple explanation behind the care Mr Ishak Ahmed received upon coming to the mainland: “Nothing more could be done.”

A Department of Home Affairs spokeswoman said they were aware of the ongoing inquest but said it would be “inappropriate” to comment while the matter was still active.

“The department offers its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Ishak Ahmed,” the spokeswoman said.

In 2016, Papua New Guinea’s Supreme Court ruled Manus Island’s detention centre was illegal and ordered it to be shut down.

But hundreds refused to leave when the centre was officially closed a year later, saying they feared for their safety.

By 2019, at least 14 people – including Mr Ishak Ahmed – had died in detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru, more than 44900km northeast of Australia.

Mr Ishak Ahmed was just 27 and had been held on Manus Island for about three years when he fell at the detention centre on December 22, 2016.

Despite the critical nature of his injuries, Mr Ishak Ahmed was not flown to the mainland some 24 hours after the fall.

Facilities on Manus Island back in 2012. The detention centre was closed in 2017 after Papua New Guinea’s Supreme Court found it was illegal. Picture: Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship / Getty Images

Staff at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital attempted to save him, but he died in their care.

Even with expert testimony during the inquest, the nature of Mr Ishak Ahmed’s medical history remains cloaked in mystery.

He presented to doctors up to 60 times during his time in detention, including eight times in the month of his deaths.

Symptoms were widely varied – jaundice, gastric problems, kidney pain, chronic sinusitis and mental health issues were among the detailed descriptions he provided.

A day before his death, he complained of chest pains and shortness of breath.

Mr Ishak Ahmed had been medicated for said conditions, including for what staff thought was a parasitic worm infection.

Doctors have now opined it was likely he experienced “severe hyponatremia”, which led to either a seizure or cardiac arrhythmia, thereby causing his fall, along with whether he had a condition known as sickle cell trait.

The family’s grief is compounded by the limited internet in Sudan and no avenue to watch or take part in the brief coronial proceedings, almost eight years after Mr Ishak Ahmed’s death.

Members of the Brisbane Refugee Action Collective outside the coroners court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

On the first day, as a vigil was held by members of the Brisbane Refugee Action Collective, next of kin Suliman said they just wanted answers over what happened.

“After his death, the family lost hope in all life and they always think about their deceased son,” Suliman said in a statement.

“From there they lost everything and their wishes were destroyed.”

Farhad Bandesh, an activist and artist who was detained on Manus Island, said he knew the Sudanese refugee and called him a “gentle young man” who might still have been alive today had he received the right care.

“The camps on Manus and Nauru were designed to dehumanise us and to strip our lives of all hope and meaning,” he said.

“Every single person detained on Manus and Nauru is a victim of these atrocities and deserves justice, as Faysal does.”