DENPASAR, Bali – New questions have emerged following the death of an Australian man in immigration detention in Bali, with his family saying they have received conflicting information about the circumstances surrounding his final hours.

The family of Cameron Hughes, 39, said they are seeking answers from Indonesian authorities after Hughes died while being held at the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office on Friday. They also plan to work closely with Australian consular officials to better understand how he came to be detained and what happened while he was in custody.

The latest developments come days after Indonesian immigration authorities confirmed Hughes died while awaiting deportation over an alleged immigration violation.

Read our previous report: Australian Man Dies in Bali Immigration Detention

Family Seeks Clarity

According to Australia’s ABC News, Hughes had been living in Bali for more than 15 years, where he built a life, operated a car restoration business in Jimbaran, and raised an eight-year-old son with his former Indonesian wife.

In a statement, his family described Hughes as a devoted father who had worked hard to build a life in Bali.

“Cameron was a beautiful person who loved his family deeply and was a devoted father,” the family said.

“He was resilient, hardworking and proud of overcoming challenges to build a good life.”

The family said they were devastated by his death and were now trying to understand the circumstances that led to it.

“We will be working closely with consular staff to understand what actually happened, and work with them to understand the full extent of the situation,” the family said.

Conflicting Accounts

One of the key issues raised by the family concerns what they described as conflicting information surrounding Hughes’ detention and death.

The family also disputed suggestions that Hughes had failed to cooperate with immigration authorities, saying they had been in regular contact with officials regarding his immigration status.

That differs from the account provided by Indonesian immigration authorities, who previously said Hughes had ignored several summons before officers detained him on Friday pending deportation.

Investigation Continues

Immigration officials said Hughes was later found unresponsive inside the detention facility after officers noticed he had remained motionless inside a restroom during CCTV monitoring.

Authorities said officers immediately provided first aid before medical personnel transported Hughes to Bali Jimbaran General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead during the journey.

Preliminary medical findings suggested Hughes may have suffered a heart attack, although authorities have stressed that the exact cause of death remains under investigation.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed it is providing consular assistance to Hughes’ family.

“We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,” a DFAT spokesperson said.

“Owing to our privacy obligations, we are unable to provide further comment.”

As Indonesian authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding Hughes’ death, his family says it hopes the investigation will provide clarity over the conflicting accounts and explain what happened during his final hours in immigration detention.