A First Nations man who died in a Melbourne prison was the subject of a “code black” medical emergency two days earlier, but spent less than an hour in a healthcare unit before being returned to his cell, an inquest has heard.
Michael Suckling, 41, died on 7 March 2021 at Ravenhall Correctional Centre in Melbourne’s west from an enlarged heart.
A coronial inquest into Suckling’s death is considering whether the healthcare treatment the prisoner was given was adequate.
The inquest heard on Friday that, while in prison, Suckling struggled with drug addiction and poor mental and physical health, including back pain and mobility issues. The counsel assisting the inquest, Sharon Lacy, said Suckling weighed 199kg at the time of his death – having gained 117kg since entering custody in 2018.
Two former correctional staff at Ravenhall Correctional Centre also told the Victorian coroner’s court that a “code black” response was called on 5 March after Suckling was discovered in his cell with the right side of his face drooping and impaired motor skill just after 9am.
Scott Lee, who was then a corrections officer, told the hearing he was then surprised Suckling had been returned to his unit within an hour, because of his appearance earlier that morning.
In a statement, Paul Whitfield, another former correctional supervisor, said he remembered thinking “jeez that is a little bit early”.
He told the inquest that he expected Suckling to be housed longer in the medical unit.
Whitfield said Suckling initially did not want to go to the medical unit and could not recall any Aboriginal health or programs officer being called to assist.
Suckling was transported for medical treatment on a buggy, which Whitfield described as standard procedure.
CCTV footage played to the court showed Suckling walking back to his cell after being discharged from the medical unit at 9.52am.
Whitfield said Suckling rarely left his cell due to mobility issues and acknowledged that the physical exercise facilities at the prison did not have options for people with mobility issues and injuries.
Suckling was found dead just before 7.30am on 7 March, after being transferred to a different cell, when his cellmate noticed he had not risen. He was declared dead at 7.50am.
Suckling was serving a sentence of 10 years and three months for culpable driving causing death.
Lacy told the inquest Suckling had entered the prison system in a “great deal of pain” having suffered numerous injuries from the car accident. She said the pain was not well managed and he began to leave his cell “less and less”, and experienced significant weight gain.
He struggled to move around due to his injuries, was medicated for the pain and also suffered from depression and PTSD.
She said the inquest would probe the responsibilities of prison staff when inmates had complex needs.
“What responsibility does the government, the prisoner operator and the prison health provider each have to intervene to stop a prisoner from eating themselves to death?” she said.
The hearing before Coroner Leveasque Peterson continues on Monday.
