Death at Sydney detention centre

Sydney's Villawood detention centre has been the focus of controversy, with accusations of human rights abuses. Photo / Getty Images

Detainees at Sydney's Villawood detention centre may go on a hunger strike after the death of an Iraqi asylum seeker who was found unconscious in a bathroom overnight.

Ahmad Al Eqabi, believed to be in his 40s, was found in a shower cubicle about 12.40am today, witnesses say.

Mr Al Eqabi was taken to Liverpool Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Immigration said the man was found not breathing.

"CPR was started on the man, but he was pronounced dead in hospital," the spokeswoman said.

Investigations into the death are ongoing and the death would now become the subject of a coronial inquiry, she said.

Jamal Daoud, a spokesman for the Social Justice Network, said detainees at Villawood were protesting this morning and were considering a hunger strike.

"The situation is very volatile; they lost one of their friends - the second in two months," Mr Daoud said.

"We don't know how it will escalate but they are protesting at the moment."

The Department of Immigration spokeswoman said she could not comment on the possibility of a hunger strike.

Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said he was devastated by the news.

"Some people are very angry that it took 45 minutes for an ambulance to arrive," Mr Rintoul said in a statement.

"The factories of mental illness have claimed yet another victim.

"Incidents of self-harm are becoming daily occurrences at detention centres across the country. There needs to be a full inquiry into Ahmad's death and into mandatory detention itself."

Mr Rintoul said initial reports indicated the man had a wife and four children.

He had been in detention, on Christmas Island and in Villawood, for more than a year, he said.

The man had been rejected twice under the offshore processing arrangements that were found to be invalid in the recent High Court decision.

Iranian and Kurdish asylum seekers held a 12-day hunger strike at Villawood in September.

The Department of Immigration has formally confirmed the death but says it will not release any details about the man until his next of kin overseas have been informed.

"Counsellors will be available to assist and support the centre's detainees and staff today, and throughout the week," it said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The department expresses its sympathy to the family of the deceased man and will co-operate fully with the coroner," it said.

- AAP