Rohingya man 'deliberately jumped' to death from moving bus on Manus

A Rohingya man whom refugee advocates say had a long history of mental illness and epilepsy has died after throwing himself from a moving bus on Manus Island, police have confirmed.

Local police commander David Yapu told Fairfax Media witnesses said the man aged in his early 30s had “deliberately jumped” from a window of the bus, which was travelling at up to 60km/h.

Manus Island police commander David Yapu.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“He was travelling with the other refugees from the campsite towards town,” Mr Yapu said. “He jumped from a window onto the bitumen and killed himself.”

He said the man’s body was now at the Lorengau hospital and police were investigating the precise circumstances of his death.

Refugee advocates said the man had been on Manus Island for about five years. Several groups said they had been long aware of the man as being at high risk because of both mental and physical illnesses.

The United Nations’ refugee agency the UNHCR issued a statement saying it was “profoundly saddened” by the death.

“With the passage of too many years and the withdrawal or reduction of essential services, the already critical situation for refugees most in need continues to deteriorate,” Nai Jit Lam, UNHCR’s deputy regional representative in Canberra, said. “Australia’s responsibility for those who have sought its protection remains unchanged. Our thoughts and condolences are with the man’s family today.”

The agency's statement repeated calls on Australia to provide full support to refugees and asylum-seekers to "avert further harm and tragedy".

The Department of Home Affairs issued a statement saying: “The department is aware of the death on Manus Island. Further enquiries should be referred to PNG authorities.”

Jana Favero from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre said she had met the man last year on Manus Island and found him “very mentally and physically unwell”.

“I was deeply disturbed by his health condition then and this is now months later,” she said.

Ms Favero said the man was eligible for resettlement in the United States and “had his hopes pinned” on this. But there had been no visible progress, she said.

Barri Phatarfod, founder of the group Doctors for Refugees, said doctors who had been in contact with the man had repeatedly written to the then Immigration Department.

The man had temporal lobe epilepsy and suffered uncontrollable seizures once or twice a month. He also suffered renal problems and urinary incontinence.

Dr Phatarfod said the man had travelled to Darwin at one point for an MRI scan that had confirmed his epilepsy.

“It’s not a surprise. Something like this was bound to happen.”

Kate Schuetze from Amnesty International said this was the seventh death of a refugee on Manus Island. She said the Turnbull government should bring all remaining refugees and asylum-seekers in offshore processing to Australia or to a safe third country.

Elaine Pearson, Australian director of Human Rights Watch said the news was “sickening”.

“Rohingya refugees clearly cannot return home, given the current situation in Myanmar,” she said.

For help or information visit beyondblue.org.au, call Suicide Helpline Victoria on 1300 651 251, or Lifeline on 131 114.