An Aboriginal man was unwell for days before he died in prison, a coroners court has been told.
Gunditjmara and Wiradjuri man Clinton Austin was found unresponsive in his cell at Loddon Prison in central Victoria on September 11, 2022.
The man whose cell had adjoined Mr Austin's said the 38-year-old had been unwell for "several nights" before his death.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons and is known by the pseudonym 'Prisoner 2', said he had given Mr Austin a rubbish bin to vomit into two nights prior to his death because he couldn't get out of bed.
"I knew he was sick because he was vomiting," he said.
"He was having pains."
Barrister for the prison health provider, Shane Dawson said, according to a nurse who had seen Mr Austin on the morning he died that Mr Austin had been vomiting since 2am the same morning.
He asked Prisoner 2 if it was possible if he was mistaken about the day Mr Austin became ill.
Prisoner 2 said "no".
Mr Austin also appeared to be having trouble breathing in the days before his passing, Prisoner 2 said, describing his breath as "like someone with emphysema".
When prisoners had to report for a headcount on September 11 Prisoner 2 said he tried to get Mr Austin to come out of his cell.
He said Mr Austin looked paler than when he'd last seen him and his breathing wasn't as loud.
"I knew he looked worse, I just didn't think anyone was going to pass away," he said.
When a guard came in to check on Mr Austin, Prisoner 2 said Mr Austin was slumped against the wall.
A code black was called immediately and guards started CPR.
Prisoner 2 also told the court Mr Austin had told him his medications had been "cut off".
In his evidence Mr Austin's twin brother Shaun Austin said he recalled having a conversation with his brother about his medications being reduced but has since seen medical records that showed he was receiving his medication.
"He'd said to me at the time that his medications had been cut off and he was feeling quite unwell for it," he said.
"I don't know if it was just a miscommunication or whether it was something he strongly felt that they had cut his medication."
Shaun Austin said, even speaking on the phone to his brother before his death, he could tell he was struggling with his mental health.
"I could tell by the way he was talking and everything that he was depressed," he said.
"Even the way he was talking was a lot quieter."
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