JAMES JUST
A Logan man has died after being restrained by police who were called to the area when the man’s family called emergency services.
Shaun Coolwell, 34, was reportedly pushed to the ground and restrained by the shoulders and knees of police officers, handcuffing Mr Coolwell behind his back.
Neighbours reported seeing around 12 police vehicles and two ambulances rush to the address of Mr Coolwell where he died shortly before reaching the Logan hospital.
The tragedy comes after the death of Mr Coolwell’s brother, Bradley Coolwell who died in custody four years earlier.
Spokesperson for the family, Sam Watson said the government has failed families like the Coolwells and more needs to be done to empower areas like Logan.
“Shaun was a young Aboriginal man who was in desperate need of support and validation and young people who are in similar ways have no hope and no broader vision for their lives without support,” he said.
“The government just places people down in areas like Logan and just forgets about them, leading to young people uncared for and under-resourced, which in turn leads to future disputes and tragedies.
“We hold the state government and the state police service criminally accountable to what happened to young Shaun.”
Mr Coolwell reportedly severed an artery in his toe after kicking a tile, leading to profuse bleeding with it being alledged Shaun was begging for first aid at the scene.
Relative of Shaun Coolwell, Sonya Coghill said service providers need to be revised.
“We’ve been waiting for a coronial inquest for our brother Bradley for four years and this happen the weekend before the set date with Shaun,” she said
“This happened in the same house, same hospital and practically the same circumstances with Shaun and he wasn’t given duty of care.
“I don’t understand why we have to come to a coronial inquest to have closure when there are families who can’t even make an inquest.”
The Coolwells have said more services and emphasis needs to be made in helping families in low-lying communities in tackling issues.
Friend of the Coolwells, Norma Boyd said more emphasis needs to be placed on the welfare of children to assist their development.
“What I would like to see is a house set up for children and services set up within that house where they can feel safe and included,” she said.
“Shaun was a victim of a terrible cycle where he probably thought there was no point to anything because he felt stuck and alone.
“Shaun was lost and was reaching out for support, like a lot of people in these sought of areas who have experienced great hardship with little to no help or care from other people.”
The Coolwell family will be meeting with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to discuss what work is being done to prevent similar tragedies for other families.
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