Sydney family of dead mental health patient speak out

The family and friends of a 30-year-old man who died after being pepper sprayed, tasered and held down by six police officers at the weekend have spoken of their devastation. 

Jack Kokaua had escaped from a Sydney hospital, where he was being held under mental health laws, when police tracked him down and attempted to arrest him in Newtown on Sunday. 

The 30-year-old man lost consciousness and later died after he was restrained and handcuffed by several officers. 

Jack Kokaua had escaped from a Sydney hospital when police tracked him down and attempted to arrest him in Newtown on Sunday

The 30-year-old man lost consciousness and later died after he was restrained and handcuffed by several officers

The 30-year-old man lost consciousness and later died after he was restrained and handcuffed by several officers

A representative of Mr Kokaua’s family, posting his death notice on a Cook Islands Facebook group, thanked supporters for their prayers as messages of support flooded in. 

‘Much love to all my dear cousins in this sad passing,’ a member of the Kokaua family wrote. 

‘Gone too young and too soon. Now in the arms at rest in the lord forever more.’ 

‘RIP Jack… You will forever be missed,’ another said. 

Police are now investigating the death, which Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton described as ‘unfortunately not the outcome anyone looks towards’. 

Mr Kokaua had been arrested in a ‘violent confrontation’ earlier in the day after being found ‘disorientated’ and wandering through traffic in nearby Glebe at about 10.30am.

A representative of Mr Kokaua's family, posting his death notice on a Cook Islands Facebook group, thanked supporters for their prayers as messages of support flooded in

A representative of Mr Kokaua’s family, posting his death notice on a Cook Islands Facebook group, thanked supporters for their prayers as messages of support flooded in

He was arrested, physically restrained to an ambulance stretcher and chemically sedated before being taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital where he was held under the Mental Health Act. 

A few hours later he escaped from the hospital and was found nearby by police in Camperdown. 

Police performed CPR on him and rushed him back to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (pictured) but he was unable to be revived

Police performed CPR on him and rushed him back to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (pictured) but he was unable to be revived

Mr Walton said he was again ‘non-compliant and aggressive’. 

The assistant commissioner said three officers originally attempted to arrest Mr Kokaua, with another three called to the scene during the struggle.

‘In the circumstances, the police have apparently determined it was appropriate to use those instruments to attempt to detain him,’ Mr Walton told reporters in Sydney on Monday.

‘Shortly after (Mr Kokaua) lost consciousness and stopped breathing.’ 

Police performed CPR on him and rushed him back to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital but he was unable to be revived. 

The investigation will be independently reviewed and a report will be prepared for the coroner.  

The assistant commissioner said three officers originally attempted to arrest Mr Kokaua, with another three called to the scene during the struggle

The assistant commissioner said three officers originally attempted to arrest Mr Kokaua, with another three called to the scene during the struggle



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