Published: Saturday June 13, 2009 MYT 5:28:00 PM
Australian dies of heat stroke inside prison van
PERTH, Australia (AP): An Aboriginal elder died of heat stroke in "inhumane" conditions while being transported in a prison van with no air conditioning on a scorching summer day in Australia's Outback, a coroner ruled.
Western Australia Coroner Alastair Hope said Friday that he would ask state prosecutors to consider whether charges should be laid after finding the death of Mr. Ward, 46 - whose first name cannot be released for cultural reasons - was "unnecessary and wholly avoidable."
The father of four, who was picked up for drunk driving, died of heat stroke on Jan. 27, 2008, succumbing to temperatures of 112 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius) inside the van. The guards provided Ward with only a small bottle of water and did not check on him throughout the journey, Hope found in the coroner's hearing. The van had no air conditioning and little to no air flow.
When Ward eventually arrived unconscious at Kalgoorlie hospital, his body was so hot that staff could not cool him down. He had a laceration to his head from falling in the vehicle and a third-degree burn to his stomach from lying on its hot metal floor.
"In my view, it is a disgrace that a prisoner in the 21st century, particularly a prisoner who has not been convicted of any crime, was transported for a long distance in high temperatures in this pod," Hope said.
Hope found the two guards, the Department of Corrective Services and Global Solutions Ltd, a company that rents the vans to the corrective services, had all contributed to Ward's "terrible death."
Among his 14 recommendations, he said the state government must improve its handling of prisoners and review its justice system.
Aboriginal Legal Services of Western Australia CEO Dennis Eggington said Ward's family was happy with the recommendations but wanted criminal charges laid against the government.
Western Australia Attorney-General Christian Porter said action had already been taken to prevent another "tragic incident" and pledged 3 million Australian dollars ($2.4 million) and a rollout of 40 new custodial vehicles by December 2010.
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