The family of a Perth man who died in an immigration detention centre in Bali says it is “broken” and has many unanswered questions about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Cameron Hughes, 39, had been living in Bali for more than 15 years.
He was married, had an eight-year-old son and ran his own car restoration business in Jimbaran, in South Kuta.
He had recently separated from his Indonesian wife, and his family said he had been navigating Indonesia’s immigration system, trying to extend his visa to be able to stay close to his son.
Mr Hughes had an eight-year-old son. (Supplied )
“Cameron was a beautiful person who loved his family deeply and was a devoted father,” his family said in a statement.
“He was resilient, hardworking and proud of overcoming challenges to build a good life.
“Taken too soon doesn’t even come close. We are completely broken as a family.“
Mr Hughes with his sisters, Isabella Hughes and Nina Ma’Belle Wiener. (Supplied )
Cause of death
Officials from Bali immigration say Mr Hughes was taken to immigration detention on Friday, local time, for an alleged breach of his visa conditions.
They said they found him unresponsive hours later.
“During subsequent periodic monitoring via CCTV, officers noticed an anomaly when the detainee remained motionless for an extended period inside the rest room,” a spokesperson for Bali immigration’s Ngurah Rai office said.
“Staff checked vital signs, administered first aid, including supplemental oxygen, and coordinated with the nearest hospital to dispatch an ambulance.
“Arriving medical personnel provided initial treatment before transferring the individual to the Bali Jimbaran General Hospital for intensive care.”
Mr Hughes was found unresponsive in the rest room. (Supplied)
Officials said Mr Hughes was declared dead on the way to the hospital, with a preliminary medical assessment indicating he died from cardiac arrest.
‘Conflicting information’: family
However, his family said it has received conflicting information that raises questions about the cause of death, and it is seeking more details as to how he came to be detained and what happened while he was being held.
Mr Hughes and his mother, Lorelle Hughes. (Supplied )
Family members said they had been in regular contact with Bali immigration authorities to clarify Mr Hughes’s status, and denied suggestions that he had failed to cooperate with officials.
“We will be working closely with consular staff to understand what actually happened, and work with them to understand the full extent of the situation,” the family said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the Hughes family.
“We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,” a department spokesperson said.
“Owing to our privacy obligations, we are unable to provide further comment.”
