The roommate of an asylum seeker who died on the Bibby Stockholm barge has warned his death “is just the beginning”.
Yusuf Deen Kargo said other migrants aboard the vessel off Dorset could suffer the same fate as tragic Leonard Farruku.
The 27-year-old Albanian was found dead with neck injuries last month after telling his sister they were “treated by the guards like animals”.
He was due to be buried in his home country after £20,000 was raised to pay for repatriation.
Yusuf, from Sierra Leone, warned migrants detained there “don’t have any hope for their lives”.
He told the BBC: “They’re saying this is just the beginning. They are trying to give a warning, that place is not good for them. Every day their stress is increasing.”
Yusuf recalled how last month Leonard, after being out all day, said “Hello” and went to the bathroom.
There was no answer when Yusuf knocked and he raised the alarm. Staff eventually forced the bathroom door.
An adjourned inquest heard Leonard died from “compression of the neck” caused by “suspension by ligature”. Police believe there were no suspicious circumstances.
Yusuf added of his friend: “He was a very quiet person. He liked to be by himself, sitting alone playing with his phone.”
The Bibby Stockholm is meant to house up to 500 asylum seekers as a cheaper alternative to hotel accommodation.
But the BBC saw a text message about the “stress and anxiety in this barge”. It warns: “This barge feels like a prison.”
The Home Office said it takes welfare “very seriously”.
It added: “Any concerns raised are swiftly addressed through our work with the provider, and a helpline is available every day of the year.”
