FACTFILE

Roll call of deaths of asylum seekers and undocumented migrants, 2005 onwards

IRR has, since 1989, been recording the deaths of asylum seekers and undocumented migrants - two of the most vulnerable sections of our society - as a result of attempting to enter the UK, self-harm, denial of medical treatment, destitution, hazardous working conditions or racist attacks.

Forced by circumstances beyond their control to seek a life outside their home countries, prevented by our laws from entering legally and from working, denied a fair hearing by the asylum system, excluded from health and safety protection at work, kept from social care and welfare, unhoused and destitute, vilified by the media and therefore dehumanised in the popular imagination, their hopes of another life are finally extinguished.

This page lists deaths from 2005 onwards. Click here to read the list of deaths from 1989-2001. Click here to read the list of deaths from 2002-2004.

Ø § Vincent Shem, (32), 14/2/05

A Ghanaian man was found hanged by a bed sheet in Wandsworth prison. The inquest in October 2005 was told he was facing deportation after serving a six-month sentence. He reportedly spent long hours locked in his cell with nothing to occupy him, and due to staff shortages and overcrowding there was little interaction between prison officers and prisoners. None of the prison officers who gave evidence at the inquest could even recall having spoken to him during the three weeks he was in prison. The inquest rejected a suicide verdict, as the jury were not sure beyond reasonable doubt that Vincent meant to take his own life.

Ø Limbaya Ndinga, (32), 9/4/05

An asylum seeker from the DRC was found hanged at the house he was sharing with his cousin in Woodvale near Rochdale. Didier Sengambo told the inquest in December 2005 how his cousin had left the DRC in 2002 and sought asylum in the UK. He had come to live with him in 2003 while waiting a decision on the asylum claim, and when it was refused Limbaya became depressed. The coroner found that 'he was suffering from illness and took his own life while depressed'.

Unidentified man, 21/4/05

A man, believed to have been an asylum seeker, was knocked down and killed by a car on the M40, near Warwick. He is reported to have leapt from a van that had stopped at services and run towards the central reservation when a car hit him - he died instantly.

Ø § Ramazan Kumluca, (18), 27/6/05

A Kurdish asylum seeker from Turkey was found hanged in the privately run Campsfield House removal centre in Oxford. He had been detained for over four months and was said to be depressed after bail was rejected. In July 2006, an inquest found that he had taken his own life. Police read out a statement from fellow detainees who spoke of his fears for the future as he faced deportation to Italy. (Read NCADC News article: In memory Ramazan Kumluca)

Ø Nusrat Raza, (22), 2/7/05

A Pakistani asylum seeker died four days after setting herself alight in Bradford. She suffered from depression and had been told her claim for asylum had been refused, and had been appealing. Days before her death, she received a letter from the Home Office requesting further information. In February 2006, the coroner was told how Nusrat had been at home with her boyfriend and had gone into the kitchen to cook a meal. She was then heard shouting his name before being found alight in the street. At hospital where she was found to have 90 per cent burns to her body, she told a doctor that a cigarette had ignited her clothes on which she had spilt something earlier. The coroner found that 'on the balance of probabilities I would take the view that she did deliberately pour fluid over herself and lit it with the lighter.' A narrative verdict was recorded that 'she died on July 2 in Whiston Hospital, Merseyside, of extensive burns caused when white spirit on her clothing was ignited by a naked flame by a cigarette lighter in the living room of her home on the morning of June 28'.

Ø Babak Ahadi, (34), 5/7/05

An Iranian asylum seeker set himself alight at his NASS accommodation in Bristol. He died the following day in Frenchay hospital after suffering 95 per cent burns to his body. According to his friends, Babak was depressed after being told his asylum claim had been refused. The inquest in February 2005 heard from Majid Faragi, a flatmate, who said that Babak had stopped him from putting out the flames with an extinguisher. The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide and commented, 'I have no doubt in my mind that the failed asylum application had dire results and was the prime cause of Mr Ahadi's death.'

Ø Taufik Al-Karazeh, aka Mohamad Eid, (27), 9/05

A Syrian asylum seeker found hanged in Rochdale on the day he was due to leave the flat where he had been housed and return voluntarily to Palestine after his asylum claim had been refused. An asylum caseworker told the inquest that Taufik had become paranoid and thought that the Home Office had installed CCTV at his flat. At the inquest, the coroner found that he took his own life but that he couldn't be sure his balance of mind was disturbed. (Read Rochdale Observer article: Asylum seeker's suicide tragedy )

# Rushi Kamdar, (23), 9/05

A migrant worker from India, who came to work in the UK in 2004, was kicked and stamped to death in a Coventry street in September 2005, after popping out to the shops. Luke Mozid, 18, was found guilty of his murder. The prosecution alleged that the attack was motivated by robbery and racism although Luke Mozid's family dispute this.

Ø Edmore Ngwenya, (26), 14/9/05

A Zimbabwean asylum seeker died after jumping into a canal in Manchester. The police said they were called to Exchange Quay, 'following reports that a man was standing on chains at the quayside. When they arrived, officers found the man, balancing on the chains that hold the buffer tyres at the side of the canal. Officers encouraged him to come away from the canal. He was then seen to step from the chains and into the canal, going under the water. Two officers jumped in after him, while other officers called instructions from the quayside. The man re-surfaced a number of times before disappearing under water.' The Manchester Evening News reported that witnesses felt officers hesitated in responding to the situation: 'Everyone in our office was shouting at the police to jump in to save him. These officers looked like they were just not trained to deal with it', said a witness. The Independent Police Complaints Commission is conducting a 'supervised' investigation into the death. He was also facing deportation. (Read IRR News article: Two asylum seekers took their own lives within 24 hours )

Ø § Manuel Bravo, (35), 15/9/05

An Angolan, who was detained in Yarl's Wood removal centre in Bedford with his 13-year-old son, was found hanged in a stairwell on the morning of his 35th birthday and the day he was due to be deported. His young son was transferred to the care of members of his father's church in Leeds. Campaigners and members of Manuel's church have called for a public inquiry into the death and the 'illegal detention' of Manuel who claimed he had not even received a decision on his asylum appeal and therefore could not understand why he had been served with a deportation order. (Read IRR News article: Two asylum seekers took their own lives within 24 hours )

Ø Anderson da Silva, (25), 5/10/05

A Brazilian migrant jumped to his death from a building in the centre of Leeds. An inquest was told that he had not renewed his six-month visitor visa that preyed on his mind. Cannabis was also found in his body, which the coroner commented, caused drug-induced psychosis that probably affected his mental state. The coroner found that he took his own life because of personal problems.

Do Van Ky, (37), 5/10/05

An undocumented Vietnamese man died after jumping or falling from a lorry at a service station at Haddon, near Peterborough. After the accident, police arrested two men, two women and a 17-year-old boy, all believed to be Vietnamese. Police eventually established his identity (wrongly) as Ky Anh Duong, 42 - the name an assumed one. In March 2006, an inquest recorded a misadventure verdict.

Ø Lizwane Ndlovu, (29), 10/11/05

A Zimbabwean asylum seeker died in Birmingham City hospital, probably from TB, though she did not know she had the disease. She took part in a hunger strike at Yarl's Wood where she was detained, lapsing into a coma just weeks after being released from detention. Questions have been asked as to whether the removal centre had diagnosed her condition.

Ø Delroy Edwards, (43), 12/11/05

A Jamaican man died after being shot dead in Kingston, nine days after being deported from the UK. His asylum claim had been refused. Delroy had been in hiding at the time of his death and had initially fled after being shot. His claims, that he had been targeted by gangsters associated with PNP party, has been rejected by immigration adjudicators.

• Unnamed man, (42), 24/11/05

A migrant worker died the day after the minibus in which he was travelling in Peterborough overturned and hit a tree, fourteen others were treated for minor injuries.

Ø Star Engwenya, late 2005

A destitute Zimbabwean asylum seeker died in Hull hospital. She was apparently suffering from mental health problems and was, according to a friend, 'living from place to place, depending on friends who could not provide her daily needs'. She had also suffered from a stroke and was unable to access any treatment.

Ø § Bereket Yohannes, (26), 19/1/06

An Eritrean asylum seeker was found hanged in a shower block at Harmondsworth removal centre. According to the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns (NCADC), which received reports that Bereket had arrived in the UK from Italy in October 2005, he was detained on arrival in the UK, taken to Dover immigration removal centre and then to Harmondsworth in December. NCADC was told that Bereket had 'removal directions' for February but that the deportation had been deferred pending a judicial review. Detainees at Harmondsworth also told NCADC that the deportation was neither to Eritrea nor back to Italy, but to Sudan. According to other detainees at the centre, he was fearful of deportation and found conditions at the centre 'unbearable'. He also spoke of his intention to take his life. (Read IRR News article: Detainees punished for protesting after suicide )

Ø Yadav Krishnakumar, (20 months), 20/2/06

A 20-month-old baby boy died hours after being admitted to Fairfield Hospital, Bury suffering from dehydration. The inquest, in December 2006, was told that Yadav had been taken to the hospital and a doctor's surgery in the 48 hours before his death after suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting, but little was done. It was found that he probably died of dehydration and the coroner recorded a verdict of death by natural causes, although it is extremely rare for a child to die of dehydration. The coroner was extremely critical that the family of Sri Lankan asylum seekers had been placed in the area without any support network, describing it as 'incomprehensible and inhumane'. (Read Manchester Evening News article: Baby tragedy of asylum family 'left with no help' )

Ø Naser Al Shdaida, (36), 9/3/06

A Syrian asylum seeker died after jumping in front of a train in Streatham. An inquest was told that he suffered from post-traumatic stress and was scared of being deported after he was told his asylum claim had failed. (Read IRR News article: Remembering Nasser Al Shdaida)

Unidentified man, 23/4/06

A man died after apparently trying to cut himself loose from under a truck after slipping under the wheels and being dragged a mile along the A14 in Cambridgeshire. Police believed he was a stowaway. The German driver of the lorry was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol. The victim was described as Asian, aged 24 to 45, slim, 5ft 8in tall, with short hair, moustache, goatee beard and sideburns.

# Khizar Hayat, (40), 27/4/06

A Kashmiri born migrant worker died following an arson attack on the shop where he worked in Kennington, south London.

# Hamidi Hamidullah, (31), 3/5/06

A migrant worker from Afghanistan died following an arson attack on the shop where he was working. 32-year-old Robert Torto was charged with the murders of Khizar Hayat (see above) and Hamidullah Hamidi and also charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life, relating to attacks on other buildings. He was remanded in custody.

Unidentified man, (20s) 11/5/06

The body of a man was found on the A3 near Clanfield, Hampshire. A post mortem found he died of multiple injuries and was thought to have been a stowaway who hid under a vehicle. The man was described as being in his late 20s with black hair and wearing a brown jacket, cream trousers and grey trainers.

Ø Ese Elizabeth Alabi, (29), 15/5/06

A Nigerian woman died in hospital having been denied a heart transplant. Ese visited the UK regularly to see her fiancé and had never overstayed her tourist visas. However, in September 2005, she fell ill (while pregnant) and was told she could not fly home. She gave birth to twin boys in February, but steadily became sicker. She was diagnosed with a serious heart condition needing an immediate transplant. But as a foreign national her need was decided to be of a lower priority than UK citizens'. Her lawyer went to court for judicial review of this decision and because of the length of the legal fight she overstayed her visa and her medical case was adjourned until an application was heard for exceptional leave to remain. Her health deteriorated and she died before any case was heard.

Asian man, 12/6/06

An Asian man was found dead by a roadside near Witham, Essex, two other men were also found nearby and taken to hospital, one man was severely dehydrated and in a critical condition. The men were thought to be Pakistanis who were smuggled into the UK.

Asian man, 22/6/06

An Asian man died in hospital, ten days after being found severely dehydrated with another two men, one of whom was already dead (see above).

Ø Abiy Fissiha, (35), 5/7/06

An Ethiopian asylum seeker was found hanged in Greenbank accommodation centre in Liverpool, after being told his asylum claim had been refused. His claim had been classified as a 'late and opportunistic' one and was being handled under the fast-track New Asylum Model under which decisions on asylum claims are given in eleven days. The conditions under which Abiy was housed and receiving support (of £35 per week) meant that he had to 'report' on a daily basis to Reliance House - some miles away. (Read IRR News article: Abiy Fessfha Abebe: 'I can't go back. I rather die')

# Wei Wang, (41), 8/06 Glasgow

A Chinese asylum seeker died in hospital twelve days after being attacked in a 'totally unprovoked' attack outside his home in the Sighthill area of Glasgow. He had been in the Glasgow area for three months after being dispersed from London. A 19-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the murder.

Ø Pierre Palmaba Kabamba, (61), 12/8/06

An asylum seeker from Congo died after falling from a fifth floor window at the Nayland Rock hotel in Margate. The death is being treated as suicide. Pierre was staying with his wife at the hotel that is run by Migrant Helpline as an induction centre for up to 200 new arrivals - mainly Africans.

Ø Zamira Sadigova, (51), 17/8/06

An asylum seeker from Azerbaijan jumped to her death from her eleventh-floor flat in Glasgow as health officials and police officers tried to break down her door in order to section her (under the mental health Act) for treatment. The Glasgow Herald reported that she had arrived in the UK four years ago with her young son and claimed asylum on the grounds that she had been persecuted because she was Azerbaijani and her Jehovah's Witness faith. However, her asylum claim was rejected as was an appeal and benefits were withdrawn in April 2005. Various medical reports stated that she was 'vulnerable'. Zamira who had been diagnosed as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, was first sectioned in 2003 when she was found jumping in front of cars on a Glasgow street. In the last few months before her death Zamira was surviving on £20 a week, given to her by a mental health charity. She had also become delusional, repeatedly talked about killing herself and had cut herself off from family and friends. Scottish MSP's have called for a public inquiry into her death and the fact that she had been denied access to mental health treatment for a year before her death.. (Read Glasgow Herald article: Mentally ill asylum seeker left destitute leaps to her death.

Ø Paul Kiese, (31), 3/9/06

An asylum seeker from DRC was found hanged under a bridge over the River Spodden in Rochdale a month after his claim for asylum was refused. He had apparently spoken to his friends on numerous occasion about taking his own life after his asylum claim was refused and financial support withdrawn. (Read Rochdale Observer article: Refugee found dead at bridge )

One unnamed men, (20s), 8/10/06

One man was found dead and another was found seriously injured on the A20 in Sellindge, Kent. Police were seeking the driver of an articulated lorry that apparently reversed over the men. The men are both believed to be Iraqis in their 20s.

Last updated: 25 January 2007.
KEY: Stowaway death; Ø Self-harm/prevention of medical treatment/destitution; § In detention; • working (illegally) accident; # racist attack.

The Institute of Race Relations is precluded from expressing a corporate view: any opinions expressed are therefore those of the authors.