Inmate’s sad death flagged up ‘excessive heat’ issue in prison cells at Wandsworth

A prisoner at HMP Wandsworth was living in a cell that was ‘too hot’ in the days leading up to his death from a heat-related illness, a watchdog has found.

David Wise, 43, was discovered unresponsive in his cell on December 15, 2021, only 10 days after arriving at the category B men’s prison.

A new Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) report said high temperatures on the wings were a known problem while Mr Wise was at HMP Wandsworth, although there was no evidence his cell’s temperature was directly linked to his death.

An inquest in August 2024 ruled Mr Wise died as a result of hyperthermia, a condition where the core body temperature rises above the normal range. The coroner said that issues with the prison’s heating system likely contributed to his existing health conditions.

Mr Wise was taken to HMP Wandsworth on December 6, 2021, after being charged with possession and production of Class-A drugs and having an offensive weapon.

He had several health conditions, including asthma and Crohn’s disease, while he told staff he had psychosis, ADHD and anxiety. He was monitored for drug withdrawal symptoms during his early days in custody, after he tested positive for amphetamines.

Mr Wise was placed in isolation on December 8, pending the result of a Covid-19 test, after complaining he felt unwell with a temperature, muscle pain and a sore throat. Tests confirmed he did not have Covid-19.

A prison officer noticed Mr Wise was hot and very sweaty on December 14, and that it was very hot on his wing. The maintenance team visited the wing that afternoon, following reports about the excessive heat, and asked for the temperature to be turned down after finding that all the cells were hot.

An officer again noticed that Mr Wise was very sweaty while unlocking his cell for recreation time on December 15. He said he tried to call the maintenance team about the heating numerous times.

Mr Wise was found unresponsive in bed by an officer later that afternoon. The officer said ‘excessive heat’ had emanated from Mr Wise’s cell when he opened the door and his lips were dry. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him, but he was declared dead an hour later.

The ombudsman said prison staff could not have foreseen an imminent risk to Mr Wise’s life in the days leading up to his death, and found no significant gaps in his care.

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) at HMP Wandsworth had noted in a report for 2020/21, before Mr Wise’s death, that inmates at the prison faced ‘inhumane living conditions’. The board said problems with heating were ‘frequent and disruptive’, adding that conditions would only improve when there were substantial structural changes to the Victorian buildings.

The PPO report said: “E-wing was experiencing heating issues during the time that Mr Wise was there, with various sources complaining that the cells were too hot. The IMB has highlighted this issue to prison managers. An officer noted that although Mr Wise did not raise any concerns, several other prisoners had complained.

“He reported the high temperature to the works department and encouraged Mr Wise to shower and get some fresh air when he was observed to be sweating excessively. A plumber visited on December 15, to switch off the heating pump. We are satisfied that the response was timely.”

The ombudsman also said the prison had not provided CCTV footage of the emergency response to Mr Wise being found unresponsive, while staff had not turned their body worn cameras on. The report called on the prison to address these issues so that evidence was available in future incidents.

A Prison Service spokesman said: “Our thoughts remain with David Wise’s friends and family. HMP Wandsworth has since implemented both of the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman’s recommendations.”

Pictured top: HMP Wandsworth (Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga)