Tragic Death at HMP Elmley
A man died during his first night in a Kent prison following a “prolonged” restraint by officers, an inquest has heard. Josh Tarrant, 34, arrived at HMP Elmley on the Isle of Sheppey on October 31, 2023. Hours later, he suffered a cardiac arrest and died in the early hours of November 1.
Cocaine Intoxication and Psychotic Episode
Mr Tarrant reportedly suffered a psychotic episode linked to cocaine intoxication shortly after arriving. Prison officers restrained him multiple times while moving him from a standard cell to a ‘safe cell’ and then another cell over two hours.
Forensic pathologist Dr Ginni Fitzpatrick-Swallow explained the impact of the restraint. She said the “exertion during restraint” made Mr Tarrant “more vulnerable” to death caused by cocaine intoxication. “The restraint had more than a minimal contribution because it was prolonged,” she said, adding it was unclear if he would have died from cocaine alone.
Disturbing CCTV Evidence
The inquest heard that six officers first restrained Mr Tarrant as he was lifted from his cell. He fell to the floor, struggled with officers, and was eventually carried to a ‘safe cell’ with arm restraints. The CCTV footage described him breathing heavily and even hitting his head on the cell wall as officers carried him.
Later, Mr Tarrant attempted to ligature himself before being restrained again and moved to a neighbouring cell. During this, one officer briefly lay on his chest. Shortly after being left alone, he became unresponsive around 2am and went into cardiac arrest.
Background and Cause of Death
- Mr Tarrant faced multiple charges, including criminal damage and assault, following a car crash in Sittingbourne days earlier.
- Dr Fitzpatrick-Swallow confirmed Mr Tarrant died from cocaine intoxication, with exertion during restraint and an enlarged heart as contributing factors.
- She noted cocaine can cause agitation, confusion, and panic, which likely added to the distress during restraint.
- Officers involved were noted to be exhausted during the incident, underscoring the intensity of the struggle.
The inquest into Mr Tarrant’s death is ongoing.
