Aboriginal teen’s death in prison would likely have been prevented if he’d seen a cardiologist, WA coroner finds

Mr Yeeda died in West Kimberley regional prison on 3 May 2018. A coroner has found that if Yeeda had undergone heart surgery, ‘it is likely that his death would have been prevented’. Photograph: Supplied by family

An Aboriginal teenager who died in prison from complications due to rheumatic heart disease would not have died if he had seen a specialist, a Western Australian coroner has found.

The 19-year-old Miriuwung and Gajerrong man, referred to by the court at his family’s request as Mr Yeeda, died in May 2018 at the West Kimberley regional prison after suffering severe aortic regurgitation stemming from his condition.