Rumours Saruuan Aljhelie had already died earlier in the week sparked unrest in the Yongah Hill immigration detention centre

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A 22-year-old Iraqi refugee has died in hospital, days after he attempted to take his own life in his room at the Yongah Hill detention centre in Western Australia.

Saruuan Aljhelie was taken from the centre by ambulance on Sunday night, and rumours that he was already dead sparked protests among other detainees and a fire which gutted an accomodation compound.

Play Video 0:47 'They’ve smashed the whole place': detainee films WA detention centre fire – video

Aljhelie was in a critical condition at Royal Perth hospital, and his life support was later switched off.

Australian Border Force confirmed the man’s death on Thursday.

“We express our condolences to his family and friends,” it said in a statement.

“The matter will be referred to the state coroner for investigation. The department and Australian Border Force will provide all necessary assistance to the investigation.”

Friends and fellow detainees have alleged Aljhelie sought help but was turned away, and that their own entreaties to officials went unheeded.

Confusion reigns three days after fire and unrest at detention centre Read more

Family members told media earlier in the week they believed Aljhelie was not getting the mental health care he needed.

“Somebody killed my son,” his father told Channel Seven.

He had been transferred from the Villawood detention centre in Sydney to Yongah Hill a few weeks ago, away from his family including his two young children. None of them knew why.

The family said his visa had been revoked after he was caught in possession of cocaine.

“He’s not an animal, we are human. Everyone in that detention centre is human, they need to look after them,” said Aljhelie’s brother.

Family members had published photos of Aljhelie in his hospital bed on life support. Late on Wednesday another photo indicated he had passed away.

The home affairs department has refused to answer key questions about what has happened before, during and after the unrest.

Detainees have alleged fire crews weren’t at the fire until several hours after it started, although WA emergency services told Guardian Australia the first of 12 crews were on site within 20 minutes of being called, less than an hour after the fire started.

After the fire dozens of men were pictured and filmed handcuffed in the centre grounds, and around 150 sleeping on the floor of the dining area.

After the riot, an unknown but significant number of men were sent to Christmas Island, where until this week detainees were slowly being transferred out ahead of its frequently reported planned closure.

Guardian Australia has been contacted by a number of detainees who were transferred to Christmas Island, some of whom say they have been kept in segregation rooms and denied access to doctors.

A federal police investigation is under way into an incident at Yongah Hill in July. A detainee was allegedly assaulted, sustaining head injuries, but a Sydney-based lawyer has said no one called an ambulance. Instead, she called paramedics when she learned of the incident eight hours later.

Guardian Australia understands the AFP can only investigate an incident if it receives a referral from Border Force, which it did more than a week later. The AFP confirmed an open investigation but declined to comment further while it was ongoing.

A review by the Australian Human Rights Commission last year identified concerns about the level of medical care inside the centre. It had no complaints about the clinic but noted that it only operated from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and psychiatric healthcare was largely delivered via Telehealth, despite the complex needs of the population.

The home affairs department has disputed healthcare in the centre, which is provided by private contractor IHMS, is inadequate.

• Crisis support services can be reached 24 hours a day: Lifeline 13 11 14; Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800; MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78