An teenager who identified as Indigenous has died while in custody at Western Australia's troubled youth detention centre, Banksia Hill.
According to the ABC, the 17-year-old took their own life last night, becoming the second Indigenous teenager to die in WA youth detention following the death of 16-year-old Indigenous teen Cleveland Dodd last October.
In a statement released Friday morning, the WA Department of Justice said at approximately 9:50pm on Thursday evening Banksia Hill staff found the teen unresponsive when conducting nightly checks.
"Staff breached the cell and commenced resuscitation before onsite medics came to assist," the statement read.
"St John Ambulance arrived at the facility but their efforts to revive the boy were unsuccessful."
On Friday morning, WA premier Roger Cook labelled the incident "a horrible, horrible event", telling reporters amounted to a "failure" and that "the system's not good enough".
"Clearly, a failure has taken place because someone has lost their life and we will now undertake the very important task of understanding the circumstances that preceded his death," Mr Cook said.
"The system's not good enough. We need to continue to improve it but what I've seen is significant improvement over the time that I've been Premier."
The government said WA Commissioner of Corrective Services, Brad Royce, attended the facility overnight.
Mr Cook said the teenager was taken into custody at the facility on Tuesday and was provided with health care and clinical support based on his presentation.
"He came in intoxicated (with drugs and alcohol) ... he went into our intensive supervision unit," he said.
"In that unit, we have full monitoring and we keep an eye on young people.
"It was around his health and not around any mental health or self-harm issues."
The government said support would be provided all those at Banksia Hill.
"…young people at Banksia Hill will be provided counselling and cultural services to assist them during this difficult time," the government said.
"The WA Police Chaplain has been providing care to staff at the facility who also have access to Departmental support."
The government said the Department of Communities will offer the teen's family support, with the circumstances surrounding his death being investigated by police on behalf of the State Coroner.
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Note: The original version of this report said the youth who lost his life was Indigenous. According to Commissioner Brad Royce, the boy identified as Indigenous. National Indigenous Times understands the boy's stepfather is Indigenous.
