Kamil, 34, who was being held at Australia’s offshore detention centre, is understood to have slipped on a rock and struck his head

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A Pakistani refugee from Australia’s offshore immigration detention centre has drowned at a waterfall on Manus Island.

He reportedly went missing on the afternoon of 2 August at a waterfall close to the town of Lorengau. His body was found two hours later after a search by locals and police.



Refugees on Manus Island said the man’s name was Kamil. Guardian Australia has chosen not to report the man’s full name out of concern for his family back in Pakistan.

Kamil was married and had a daughter. His family remain in Pakistan. It’s unclear if they have been informed of his death.

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Friends have told Guardian Australia the 34-year-old’s death was misadventure, not suicide. He is understood to have slipped on a rock in the waterfall and struck his head.

Refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island have made regular trips to the waterfall to go swimming in recent weeks, since they were given greater freedom of movement from the detention centre – which in April was ruled illegal by the Papua New Guinea supreme court.

Their detention remains illegal and is subject to further court challenge.

A fellow refugee paid tribute to Kamil:

“RIP Dear Kamil,

happy freedom dear Kamil

u had alot of wishes like each of us inside this cage but Australia took away our wishes ....

we see them but we cant touch them ...

we passe away slowly slowly in the way of freedom from this cage....

Happy freedom dear Kamil my thought are with you, happy freedom dear Reza Barati, happy freedom dear Hamid Hhazai....

happy freedom dear Kamil,

i know how you got through so much,

not me everyone knows how we are suffering but.....

Dear kamil i wish will be the Next .....

happy freedom

R I P”

Almost 900 men are held on Manus Island after being sent there by Australian authorities under the government policy which dictates that anyone seeking asylum by boat is processed offshore.

Australia’s immigration department said it was aware of Kamil’s drowning.

“Australian government representatives remain in close contact with the Royal PNG constabulary [police] which is managing the situation,” a spokesman for the department said.