A 42-year-old inmate died this Sunday afternoon in the courtyard of the women's module of the Ponent Penitentiary Center in Lleida. Emergency services activated all protocols following the inmate's sudden collapse, but it was impossible to reverse the cardiorespiratory arrest.
Authorities rule out suicide according to sources from the Department of Justice confirmed to the newspaper SEGRE. The investigation now focuses on determining exactly how the prohibited substances entered the penitentiary.
The wrapper gave way in the stomach
All indications point to an accidental overdose caused by drug ingestion. The woman allegedly swallowed a package with narcotics to introduce them into the prison and the package opened inside her.
"The woman died around six in the afternoon after collapsing" - Investigation sources
The health personnel of the center provided the first immediate assistance until the personnel of the Medical Emergency System (SEM) arrived. The medical professionals worked quickly to stabilize the patient in the courtyard of the module itself.
The SEM paramedics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers for several minutes. Despite intense medical efforts, they were unable to save his life.
Investigation open in Poniente
The death of this inmate opens an internal and police investigation to clarify the facts. Agents must determine if there was negligence in access controls or if the inmate acted alone.
The lifeless body was transferred under judicial custody for the performance of the pertinent autopsy. This forensic procedure will confirm the exact cause of death and the nature of the ingested substance.
The tension in the women's module increased after the news became known among the other inmates. The center maintains normality in the rest of the facilities while the Mossos d'Esquadra take statements from the eyewitnesses of the event.