An Indigenous teenager found unresponsive in a prison cell after a suspected self-harm incident has died.

Officers discovered the 16-year-old at the troubled Unit 18 youth detention facility at Casuarina Prison in WA in the early hours of October 12 after he contacted them through the intercom.

The boy was taken to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth in a critical condition where he died shortly after 10pm on Thursday in the company of family members.

“The Department of Justice wishes to express deepest sympathies to the boy’s family, friends and community for their tragic loss,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

The department is continuing its investigation into the incident and says it will fully co-operate with a mandatory coronial inquest.

Unit 18 is a standalone youth facility at the maximum-security Casuarina men’s prison.

It opened in July 2022 to house the most challenging juvenile offenders after major riots at the Banksia Hill youth detention centre.

Both Unit 18 and Banksia Hill have been plagued by high rates of self-harm incidents and detainees being placed into prolonged lockdowns.

Indigenous advocates have criticised the WA government for housing youth detainees in an adult prison but WA Premier Roger Cook described the arrangement as a “necessary evil”.

Staff and detainees at Unit 18 and Banksia Hill will be provided counselling and support services.

13YARN 13 92 76

Aboriginal Counselling Services 0410 539 905

Lifeline 13 11 14

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)

– AAP