A 16-year-old Aboriginal boy has passed away after he was detained in a West Australian youth detention unit.

The teenager, who took his own life, was found unresponsive in his cell last Thursday morning. He was revived by officers before he was rushed to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital where his life support was turned off yesterday evening.

The boy was detained in the controversial Casuarina Prison’s Unit 18 which is located within an adult maximum-security prison.

On 28 September, the Aboriginal Legal Service penned a pressing letter to the Deputy Corrective Services Commissioner. The letter said that Unit 18 was impacting the teenager’s wellbeing in a negative fashion and requested an urgent transfer to Banksia Hill, a Western Australia youth facility.

It further states that an Indigenous male told his lawyer that conditions in Unit 18 were tough.

“He has generally not received more than one hour out of his cell per day, and on some days no time out of his cell at all,” the letter said.

“He generally has not been able to access programs or education. Though he has received one or two programs since arriving, these have only been for one hour each day and were the only time he was allowed out of his cell on those days.”

The grandmother of the boy, who was willing to house him, spoke about how Unit 18 had failed her grandchild.

“[It was] a place that’s supposed to look after him, and he comes out of there in an ambulance. What does that tell you? That’s neglect,” she said.

For those seeking assistance, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Photo: Prison Bars by Michael Coghlan available HERE and used under a Creative Commons License. This photo has been not modified.