A prisoner passed away at 11 p.m. yesterday after suffering from pain in his upper torso, the prison authorities said in a statement.
They said that the 46-year-old inmate reported the pain at around 9.15 p.m. and the officers on duty contacted the facility’s duty medical officer. The officers tended to the inmate until the medical officer arrived.
An ambulance was requested and the inmate was transferred to Mater Dei Hospital, accompanied by the medical officer.
He was subsequently admitted to the Mater Dei Hospital’s Intensive Therapy Unit, where efforts to resuscitate him failed and he passed away at 11 p.m. His next of kin have been informed.
The prison authorities said that the case was reported to the police since the cause of death is still to be determined.
Duty magistrate Gabriella Vella is holding an inquiry.