Asylum Seeker Died In Detention In Cambridgeshire

Asylum seeker died in detention in Cambridgeshire

BBC NEWS
7 October 2010 Last updated at 16:40 ET

A 39-year-old asylum seeker who died at a detention centre in Cambridgeshire was refused medicine shortly before his death, an inquest has heard.

Eliud Nyenze, who was being detained at Oakington, asked for paracetamol just before he died in April.

But the inquest ruled Kenyan Mr Nyenze died from natural causes probably caused by an irregular heartbeat.

The inquest was told the refusal of paracetamol would not have made a difference.

Mr Nyenze's death at Oakington immigration detention centre in April sparked protests by other detainees.

The inquest at Huntingdon heard medical evidence from Home Office pathologist Nat Carey which suggested a natural cause of death.

David Morris, coroner for South and West Cambridgeshire, said there was no “gross failure” by the authorities at Oakington who acted in a “timely and appropriate” manner.