The family of a Colombian man who is believed to have taken his own life at a Heathrow immigration removal centre say he begged for help and was willing to leave the UK. Frank Ospina, 39, died within a month of being detained while awaiting deportation. His family say he had no existing mental health problems.
Mr Ospina, an engineering graduate, came to the UK in late 2022 to visit his mother and prospective universities. He decided to enrol on a master's course in Spain but took a short-term job washing dishes, which he was not entitled to do. He was arrested in an immigration raid on 3 March and taken to the Heathrow detention centres.
His sister, Tatiana Rios Ospina, said his mental health deteriorated rapidly. 'He kept insisting that he felt very bad, mentally, that he needed to get out of there,' she said. On 21 March, Mr Ospina called a charity and said he was prepared to be removed under a voluntary return scheme. He was put on constant watch at Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre.
The family received news that Mr Ospina had died during the night of 25 March. His mother was later told this was his second suicide attempt. His brother-in-law, Julian Llano, said: 'They put pressure on him by saying he was going to stay there, while Frank was asking to be released.'
A Home Office spokesman said: 'Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of Mr Ospina at this deeply distressing time.' The BBC has obtained internal documents suggesting growing frustration among detainees due to delays in case resolution, negatively impacting mental health.
