27-year-old found dead in prison cell

A 27-year-old inmate has died in his cell in Christchurch Prison.

The Corrections Department said yesterday that the inmate was found dead about 9 am on Sunday. The death will be the subject of a coroner's inquest.

Paul Monk, regional manager of South Island Prisons, said the inmate's family had been advised.

"Deaths in custody are rare and although our staff have been thoroughly trained to deal with the situation, it is extremely distressing for everybody at the prison," he said.

The department's independent inspectorate will investigate the incident.

An investigating officer from the Office of the Ombudsman will assist in the inquiry.

Mr Monk said support would be provided for staff and inmates at the prison.

The latest death brings to six the number of people who have died in Christchurch prisons since 1999.

A 37-year-old inmate was found dead in his cell in June.

At the beginning of 1999, Russian immigrant Ilham Abbasov, aged 36, who was serving a four-year sentence after stabbing his wife, was found dead in his cell.

On November 30, 1999, David Rewi Haimona, 43, died while being moved by the emergency response squad to another area in Christchurch Prison.

A woman died in a Christchurch Women's Prison cell in the middle of last year and a 22-year-old man died in his Christchurch District Court cell in April this year.

- NZPA