Image:Image: Shutterstock – Emma Jones

The daughter of a Tamil asylum-seeker family held on Christmas island has been evacuated to Perth for emergency care for a suspected blood infection. Tharnicaa had fallen ill 10 days prior but was taken to hospital on Sunday, after her Mother, Priya alerted doctors of her deteriorating condition. Tharnicaa and her family were detained on Christmas Island in August 2019 when they were removed from their home in Biloela, Queensland following unsuccessful asylum claims of three family members.  The group fighting to have the family stay in Australia released a statement to say that staff at the Detention Centre refused requests to take Tharnicaa to hospital.

Produced By: Tahlia Kraefft

Featured In Story: David Manne, Executive Director of Refugee Legal

First aired on The Wire, Tuesday 09 February 2021