Family of Navy diver and father, 36, demand answers over his mysterious death after his body was found at a centre for homeless veterans
- The family of a navy diver, 36, are questioning the circumstances of his death
- Josh Manning had many health needs and died from a seizure in October 2019
- He was living at RSL Lifecare's Anzac Village on Sydney's northern beaches
- His family claim that staff failed to ensure that Josh was taking his medication
The family of a Navy diver are demanding answers after his sudden death at a charity-run accommodation for homeless veterans.
Specialist diver Josh Manning's body was found in his room at RSL Lifecare's Anzac Village in Narrabeen, on Sydney's northern beaches, last October.
The 36-year-old father-of-one had complex health requirements and had been taking anti-seizure medication in the lead up to his death.
Mr Manning's parents are questioning whether nurses caring for him up had ensured he was taking his medication in the days before he suffered a seizure and died.
His father, Mike Manning, told ABC: 'We still haven't got the answers we want as to... why they, in our opinion, failed in his duty of care.'
The family of specialist navy diver Josh Manning (pictured right), 36, are questioning the circumstances surrounding his death at RSL Lifecare's Anzac Village in Narrabeen in 2019
The family are calling for RSL Lifecare to release a report on the care that Josh received prior to his fatal seizure.
Mr Manning joined the navy at just 18 years old in 2001 and qualified as a Navy clearance diver in 2006.
He was sent away on classified missions that his family believe eventually caused him great trauma and anxiety.
The diver suffered from a serious hip fracture in 2010 which saw him begin to drink heavily.
He was then discharged from the navy in 2013 after he began experiencing frequent seizures.
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Mr Manning ended up on the streets of Melbourne after struggling with depression, seizures and alcohol abuse.
In 2016 he was offered an apartment at the Anzac Village through the the Homes for Heroes program.
The program for homeless veterans provided Josh with regular medical treatments for his PTSD, life-threatening seizures and drinking problem.
Mr Manning said that his son was dependent on a variety of medications to stay alive and needed close supervision in order to ensure he took them.
Josh was transferred to a triage facility in August 2019 which his family claimed caused him more anxiety and worsened his health conditions.
Manning (pictured) suffered from PTSD, life-threatening seizures and a drinking problem
His mother, Diana Lord, said that she insisted Josh be checked on twice a day to ensure he was taking his medication but later found out staff were not doing so.
Ms Lord said that on the day her son died 'Some other guys heard some noises in his room, but no-one went to check on him.'
'Around 11.15am one of the staff called his phone, but he did not answer, and at about 12.15pm she decided to go and check on him in his room and found that he'd passed away,' Ms Lord said.
The Manning family are calling for a coronial inquiry into the circumstances of Josh's death.
A spokesperson from RSL Lifecare, Wesley Mission and Homes for Heroes said they were 'deeply saddened' by Josh's death.
