The father of an inmate who died after complaining of chest pain believes his son’s death might have been avoided and is now concerned for other inmates.

Daniel Muscat said he believed his son, Benny, was not seen by a doctor immediately in prison when he complained of chest pain a week ago.

Mr Muscat said he was told that a doctor only gave advice over the phone and did not go to Corradino Correctional Facility to visit his ailing son.

However, prison director Abraham Zammit insisted a doctor did turn up at Corradino and even accompanied Mr Muscat in the ambulance that took him to hospital.

He preferred not to comment further due to the pending magisterial inquiry.

The prison authorities said last week 46-year-old Benny Muscat, in prison for aggravated theft, informed prison officers he was in pain at about 9.15 p.m. on August 28. In turn, the officers informed the prison medical officer on duty and called for an ambulance. Mr Muscat was taken to Mater Dei Hospital but efforts to resuscitate him failed and he died at about 11 p.m., they said.

His father is however convinced his son, married with two children, died in prison and not in hospital.

“My son was strong... I have been told that at 9.15 p.m. he asked for a doctor who recommended over the phone he takes Panadols... An hour later he said he was still in pain,” Mr Muscat said.

He explained that when the police informed the family about what had happened, another son of his rushed to hospital. By the time he arrived, at about 11.25 p.m., the body was “stone cold”, suggesting he had been dead for a while.

The case has been passed on to the police for investigation and Magistrate Gabriella Vella is holding an inquiry.

“I don’t know how I’m going to get through this trauma. I would have never imagined suffering my treasured, eldest son’s death. I don’t mean harm to anyone but I want justice and those responsible to be punished before someone else gets hurt,” Mr Muscat said.

The Labour Party spokesman for justice, Michael Falzon said he too had been given information that “there seems to have been a considerable amount of time from when Benny Muscat complained of pain and the time he was seen by a doctor”.

“There should be a doctor on call at every single moment in time. I don’t want to sound like the wise guy but I have to say it. There are many deficiencies in prison, which have been there for a number of years, such as a shortage of staff. There was meant to be a recruitment a number of months ago, which never materialised,” Dr Falzon said.

Pointing out that an independent inquiry was ongoing, the Justice Ministry said it had “no doubt that this magisterial inquiry is being run seriously”. The ministry said it was therefore awaiting the outcome of the inquiry and so did not wish to comment further at this stage.