Death in custody: Investigation after worker from BHP mine camp ‘wrestled to the ground’ at Newman Hospital

A 36-year-old miner has died after a physical struggle with five police, security and hospital staff at Newman Hospital. The man, who is understood to be a contractor at a BHP mine, had been detained at the hospital under the Mental Health Act early on Thursday morning after reports he had been “acting strangely” at work. WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said that the man had disappeared from work by the time officers arrived on Wednesday. It is understood police were called to Kalgan’s Rest Village, a large BHP mining camp with 620 ensuite units, camping sites and caravan bays. The man returned to work the next morning, where he was again “acting erratically” and police were called. “He was detained under the Mental Health Act as we had concerns for his welfare,” Mr Blanch said, adding that the man was taken to the hospital about 2am, where he agreed to be admitted. About 10 hours later, at 12.30pm, police responded to urgent reports that the man — who he described as “of a physical size that was quite large” — causing a disturbance as the hospital. “We were informed that he was damaging property in the hospital and medical staff . . . requested our help,” Mr Blanch said. He said that the man had “ripped off” internal doors. “On arrival police and hospital staff did wrestle with the male in an effort to provide a sedative,” Mr Blanch said. “He was being wrestled to the ground by up to five people including two police, medical staff and a security staff. “I have watched the body-worn video . . . it took a number of people to try to keep the male still. “During this time the male suffered a medical episode ... we understand it may have been a cardiac arrest. “CPR was immediately commenced but tragically the male passed away after some time attempting to resuscitate him. “His family have been notified. Our thoughts go out to the man’s family. They are no doubt suffering significant grief at this time.” Mr Blanch said that there was body-worn footage and CCTV of the incident and that homicide detectives and the internal affairs unit had travelled to Newman to investigate the circumstances of the man’s death, which is being dealt with as a death in police custody. “Police are committed to conducting a full and thorough investigation, it will start with a criminal investigation to understand the cause or the causes of his death,” he said. “Police and hospital staff regularly deal with critical incidents every day. This one has ended in a tragedy and it requires a full investigation to give the family the answers they deserve.” Mr Blanch said that he did not believe the man had been known to police prior to the incident. He said the man had been voluntarily admitted to the hospital “by consent and understanding that he was unwell at that time”. Mr Blanch said as a result of the critical incident, the police officers involved had been sent on three days of immediate leave as was standard. “As Commissioner, I have to make sure we protect and support our officers going through that (lengthy investigation process),” he said. “This is a tough time for the police but we always look to the family and realise that they are grieving significantly.”