Police are investigating the death of a 29-year-old prisoner at Otago Corrections Facility at Milburn yesterday - the second death of an inmate at the prison in two months.
OCF prison director Jack Harrison said staff found a prisoner in an unresponsive state and provided medical attention but he was pronounced dead.
The death has been referred to the coroner and was being investigated by the prison inspectorate and police.
St John communications adviser Ian Henderson said three ambulances were sent to the prison about 4am.
The man was treated but died at the scene.
A Fire Service spokesman said firefighters from Milton were called to a ‘‘cardiac arrest'' at the prison. Firefighters helped with the attempt to resuscitate the man, he said.
In November last year, another inmate, a man in his 30s, died at the prison.
