Death in Tasmanian prison after reports man 'unresponsive' in cell

A man was found unresponsive in his cell at the Hobart Reception Centre just before 11am on Sunday. Tasmania Police says efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. Police are investigating, while a professional standards investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding the death. A 23-year-old man has died while being held in custody at the Hobart Reception Centre, Tasmania Police say. Police say prison staff alerted them to the man's death after they found him unresponsive in his cell just before 11am on Sunday. Tasmania Police Assistant Commissioner Doug Oosterloo said the deceasedmanwas from New Norfolk, north of Hobart. He had been arrested on Saturday in relation to a wounding incident in Claremont the day before, andwastransferred to the Hobart Reception Centre around 5:30pm, police said. "Ambulance Tasmania crews were called, Hobart uniform police attended and Hobart reception prison staff all attempted to revive the man," Assistant Commissioner Oosterloo said. "But tragically those attempts were unsuccessful." Assistant Commissioner Oosterloo said forensic specialists, detectives from Tasmania Police's professional standards' unit and the coroner had attended the scene. "The professional standards investigation includes examining CCTV footage at Hobart Reception, records and interviewing all witnesses, and that is information that will come out in the investigation," he said. Acting Director of Prisons Tristan Bell said the Tasmania Prison Service would not comment further, with the matter being referred to the coroner. "On behalf ot the Tasmania Prison Service, I extend my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased man at this difficult time," [Image text:] HOBART RECEPTION PRISON