A prisoner held at Wandsworth Prison died from a heat-related illness just 10 days after arriving at the prison, raising serious questions about the safety and conditions in one of the UK’s most overcrowded and troubled prisons.
David Wise, 43, was found unresponsive in his cell on 15 December 2021. He died of hyperthermia — a condition where the body overheats — after being housed in a cell where temperatures were described as “excessive”.
An inquest in August 2024 found that the prison’s faulty heating system likely contributed to his death, exacerbating pre-existing health issues such as asthma and Crohn’s disease.
Wise had tested positive for amphetamines on arrival and was being monitored for drug withdrawal symptoms. He had also disclosed to staff that he suffered from psychosis, ADHD, and anxiety. Although he did not raise specific complaints about his cell temperature, officers noted he was sweating profusely in the days before his death.
Maintenance teams were called to inspect the heating system, but by the time action was taken on 15 December, it was too late. Wise was found unresponsive that afternoon and was pronounced dead despite resuscitation attempts.
A Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) report, released on Friday, confirmed that excessive heat was a known issue on Wise’s wing. While the report found no significant gaps in the care he received, it criticised the prison for failing to provide CCTV footage of the emergency response and for staff not activating their body-worn cameras — a failure the PPO said must be addressed to ensure accountability in future deaths.
The case was first reported by Local Democracy Reporter Charlotte Lillywhite.
Second report highlights suicide and hooch misuse
The same day, the PPO published another report into the death of Damian Bugno-Swierz, 29, who died by suicide in November 2023 after drinking illicitly brewed alcohol, known as hooch. He was one of three men found with ligatures around their necks after consuming the drink — the only one to die.
Bugno-Swierz had a history of alcohol dependency and was found to have double the legal drink-drive limit of alcohol in his system. The report raised serious concerns about staff delays in finding him, a faulty emergency light in his cell, and the poor standard of CPR given. Though no recommendations were made, as the prison had taken subsequent action, the death adds to a growing toll of preventable incidents.
Wandsworth’s Troubled Record
Putney.news has repeatedly reported on systemic failings at HMP Wandsworth. The prison made national headlines last year when a terror suspect escaped from custody through the kitchen area. We’ve also reported on serious issues with fire safety, chronic staff shortages, overcrowding, and the failure of basic repairs.
Campaigners, MPs, and oversight bodies have called for urgent reform. Now, the prison’s leadership will face public scrutiny at a meeting on Thursday, April 25 at St Mary’s Church in Putney, where Wandsworth’s Governor Andy Davy is expected to answer questions from the public.
Previous Deaths at Wandsworth Prison: A Timeline of Tragedy
- Peter “Leo” Tauroza (March 2020): Died by suicide the day after receiving a custodial sentence. Despite prior warnings, staff failed to assess his risk after court, moved him to a new cell without notice, and did not give him his medication. The PPO found multiple missed opportunities to intervene.
- Przemyslaw Wozniak (February 2021): A Polish national awaiting extradition who self-referred for mental health support seven times. He was found hanged in his cell after 11 months without meaningful staff interaction. His deteriorating mental state went unnoticed.
- Piotr Marszalek (June 2021): Had a long history of alcohol misuse and self-harm. He died by suicide while under monitoring. The PPO criticised inadequate suicide prevention measures and failure to use enhanced risk procedures.
- Daniel Beckford (June 2021): Died in hospital days after being found hanging in his cell. He had taken an overdose but was still allowed to keep his medication. Failures in ACCT suicide prevention procedures and family liaison were highlighted.
- Shahrooz Ghassemian (June 2021): Took a fatal overdose of medication he had both stockpiled and obtained without prescription. The PPO criticised weak care planning, failure to follow up on suicide risk, and poor communication between prison departments.
- Brandon Johnson (September 2019): Died of opiate poisoning after being given an increased methadone dose. The PPO found he missed a key dose on the day he died and criticised inappropriate attempts to resuscitate him despite signs of rigor mortis.
- Colin Milner (July 2023): Died of oesophageal cancer in a hospice. While Wandsworth Prison was not at fault, the PPO noted delays in cancer diagnosis during his time at a different prison.
Pending Investigations
The PPO is still investigating several deaths at HMP Wandsworth. The following cases remain open as of April 2025:
- Peter Honnor
- Warren Arter
- Patrick Gladysz
- Rana Khan
- Gurshinder Singh
- Sidique Govinden
- Aleksandras Maslennikovas
- Morgan Sullivan
- Thanweer Asharaf
With 18 deaths now either documented or under investigation by the PPO, Wandsworth Prison finds itself under intense scrutiny — both from official bodies and a growingly concerned public. The question now is whether real reform can be achieved before more lives are lost.
