Roommate of Albanian asylum seeker ‘who took his own life’ on the Bibby Stockholm says his body lay undiscovered for 12 hours

• For free, confidential help from Samaritans call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org[1]

By Rory Tingle, Home Affairs Correspondent For Mailonline[2]

Published: 13:40, 10 January 2024 | Updated: 13:40, 10 January 2024

An asylum seeker who was found dead on the Bibby Stockholm after 'taking his own life' lay undiscovered for 12 hours, his former roommate claimed today.

Leonard Farruku, a 27-year-old Albanian, was found unresponsive on board the accommodation vessel at Portland[3] Port, Dorset, on December 12.

Speaking publicly for the first time today, his roommate Yusuf Deen Kargbo, 20, said he believes the barge is unsafe and warned other people could harm themselves.

Mr Kargbo, who boxed for Sierra Leone in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham before claiming asylum, said residents 'don't have any hope'.[4]

'They're saying this (Leonard's death) is just the beginning,' he told the BBC[5]. 'They are trying to give a warning, that place is not good for them. Every day their stress is increasing, getting worse.'

Leonard Farruku, a 27-year-old Albanian, was found unresponsive on board the accommodation vessel at Portland Port, Dorset, on December 12

The Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland, Dorset, where Mr Farruku died last month

Last month an inquest heard Mr Farruku had died from 'compression of the neck' caused by 'suspension by ligature'.

Today his roommate said the last time he saw the Albanian alive was when he went for an evening meal in the Bibby Stockholm's canteen.

When he came back to his room after dinner to use the toilet he found the bedroom door was locked. He assumed Mr Farruku was using the bathroom so went to find another bathroom.

He then walked to another part of the barge where the WiFi signal was known to be better and made a call home lasting an hour and a half before returning to his bunk and falling asleep.

The boxer woke up at 5.30am and found Mr Farruku's bed had not been slept in.

Pushing the door to the bathroom, he found it was once again locked so raised the alarm.

'At first they didn't take me seriously but after I asked them again they came and had a look,' he told the Guardian[6] in a separate interview.

'When they got no reply they forced the door open and found Leonard unconscious.'

Mr Kargbo described his former roommate as a 'nice, kind man who always smiled and said hello'.

Home Secretary James Cleverly previously said that Mr Farruku's sudden death would be 'fully' investigated.

Mr Farruku's inquest last month was told there were no suspicious circumstances and the case was adjourned for a full hearing to be held at a later date.

Nikki Muller, senior coroner's officer at Dorset Coroners Court, said: 'Police and paramedics were called following reports of an unresponsive male at the location.

'Leonard Farruku was confirmed deceased at the scene and police continue with their enquiries.

'He was formally identified by his cousin Maranglen Farruku.'

The first asylum seekers were brought back to the barge, moored at the Port of Portland, in October

Mr Farruku, who was born just outside Durres, Albania's second largest city, had come to the UK to find work and secure indefinite leave to remain, his sister said.

Other asylum seekers living with him on board the vessel reported he was 'screaming very loudly' at 3am and was seen banging against the walls of his cabin.

The first asylum seekers were brought back on to the vessel in October - two months after it was evacuated following the discovery of potentially fatal Legionella bacteria in the water supply.

Home Office permanent secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft last week revealed in a letter to MPs that the cost of the Bibby Stockholm contract was GBP22,450,772.

He stated that this covered the 'vessel accommodation services' portion of the contract with operators CTM.

He said the assessment of whether the vessel offered value for money was 'currently being updated'.

Campaigners have said that a man on board the Bibby Stockholm had tried to take his life earlier this year.

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'This was a tragic incident, and our thoughts are with everyone affected.

This is being investigated by the police and coroner.

'We take the welfare of those in our care very seriously, and have rigorous safeguarding processes in place.

'Any concerns raised about the service delivered on the barge are swiftly addressed through our work with the provider, and Migrant Help 24/7 is also available every day of the year.'

For free, confidential help from Samaritans call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org[7]

References

1. ^ samaritans.org (www.samaritans.org)
2. ^ Rory Tingle, Home Affairs Correspondent For Mailonline (www.dailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ Portland (www.dailymail.co.uk)
4. ^ Birmingham (www.dailymail.co.uk)
5. ^ told the BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)
6. ^ the Guardian (www.theguardian.com)
7. ^ samaritans.org (www.samaritans.org)