Two drown on Nauru, including a resettled refugee, says Scott Morrison

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/23/two-drown-nauru-including-resettled-refugee

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A refugee who was resettled on Nauru after being sent to an Australian immigration centre there has drowned along with a Nauran citizen who was trying to rescue him.

The immigration minister, Scott Morrison, said a third person, also a Nauruan citizen, was receiving treatment for injuries received while trying to assist them.

“We extend our sympathies to the families and friends of both of the deceased,” the minister said in a statement on Sunday night.

“Our prayers are also with a further Nauruan citizen who we understand is receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the attempted rescue.”

The drownings were a matter for the government of Nauru, he said.

“I understand that Nauruan police are investigating the matter, which will become the subject of a coronial inquiry.

“Given these deaths will be the subject of coronial processes and the next of kin of the deceased are yet to be informed, it would not be appropriate to go into further detail at this stage.”

Guardian Australia understands the drowning occurred off Anibare Bay, on the eastern side of the island, and that the person rescuers tried to help was a Pashtun refugee.

A spokeswoman for the minister said the circumstances of the drowning were unknown.

Last month the safety of Nauru as a place for refugee resettlement was brought into question when a 11-year-old girl died after being attacked by stray dogs.

There are currently 190 asylum seeker children detained on Nauru, with those found to be refugees due to be resettled in the country.