Asylum seeker has deportation ticket cancelled after attempting suicide

Eritrean man was due to be forcibly removed to France under one in, one out' scheme

An Eritrean asylum seeker who was due to be forcibly removed to France today under the one in, one out" scheme has had his ticket cancelled after making a serious attempt on his life, the Guardian understands.

Other detainees said they believed he had made an attempt on his life because he feared he would be in danger in France due to his specific circumstances had he been forcibly returned there. He was discovered yesterday by his cellmate, who raised the alarm. He is now on round-the-clock suicide watch in detention.

In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org