Iranian asylum seeker medivacced from Manus after heart attack

A 38-year-old Iranian asylum seeker has been medivacced from Manus Island to a Brisbane hospital this morning (Wednesday 23 March) after suffering a heart attack yesterday afternoon.

The man suffered the heart attack, around 4pm, on a soccer field near the detention centre. He was given CPR by a Wilson’s guard whose action saved the man’s life, say other asylum seekers at the scene.

The Iranian man was one of those who were injured in the attack on the detention centre in February 2014, which resulted in the killing of Reza Berati.

Like others sent to Manus, he has been infected with malaria since he was sent there in August 2013. In June 2015, he suffered a bad malaria attack that required him to be transferred to Port Morseby hospital for treatment.

He is the second asylum seeker in four weeks to be transferred from Manus Island because of heart problems.

The medical evacuation comes just a few weeks before the start of the coronial inquiry into the death of Hamid Khazaie, who died in Brisbane from septicaemia after being medivacced from Manus Island in September 2014.

“The sooner Manus Island is closed, the better,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition. “The emergency only highlights the appalling injustice inflicted on asylum seekers sent to Manus Island who have held in shocking conditions for more than two and half years.”

For more information, contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713

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