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The Guardian World1 min read
‘This has to be a wake-up call’: NSW attorney general urged to order inquest into death of Sydney’s ‘birdman’
TL;DR
Calls for an inquest into the death of Bikram Lama, a Nepali rough sleeper known as 'the birdman', have intensified after his body was found in Hyde Park. His death highlights the struggles of non-residents facing homelessness in Sydney.
Key points
- Bikram Lama was a Nepali rough sleeper known as 'the birdman'.
- His body was found in bushes near a busy thoroughfare in Hyde Park.
- Calls for an inquest into his death have been made by the community.
- Non-residents in Sydney face significant barriers to accessing support.
- About one in five rough sleepers in inner-city Sydney are non-residents.
Mentioned in this story
Bikram LamaCity of SydneyHyde ParkSt James stationAustralia
The New South Wales attorney-general, Michael Daley, has been urged to order an inquest into the death of Nepali rough sleeper Bikram Lama in Hyde Park.
The death of Lama – who was also known as “the birdman” for his love of the area’s pigeons – has prompted widespread calls for change, after Guardian Australia revealed last week that the young migrant’s body lay unnoticed for up to a week in bushes near a busy thoroughfare into St James station.
Lama’s family say he came to Australia to study, but he fell out of contact with them, and records show he was deemed a non-resident by the time of his death. The City of Sydney estimates about one in five rough sleepers in the inner-city are not Australian residents.
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Non-residents are typically unable to access key supports needed to get out of homelessness, including social housing, social security, healthcare and work rights.
The coroner is yet to determine whether an inquest into Lama’s death will be held, but has sought contact with Lama’s family in Nepal.
The independent MP for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, wrote to Daley on Friday requesting that he use his powers to direct an inquest be held into the death that examined potential policy failures.
“Like so many other people, I was just shocked and saddened by this,” he said. “It’s heartbreaking but this has to be a wake-up call for policymakers, and the question that we have to be asking ourselves is: ‘did Bikram Lama die because of failures in state and federal policies’.”
Daley’s office said the coroner was still waiting for a brief of evidence from police, after which it would decide whether to hold an inquest.
“The Attorney General has received correspondence in relation to this matter,” the spokesperson said. “The Coroner is awaiting a brief of evidence from NSW Police. Once that is received, the court will review the matter and determine whether it will proceed to inquest as per usual processes.”
In 2024, Guardian Australia investigated more than 600 homelessness deaths and found a vast life expectancy gap with the general population, often due to systemic failures to provide housing, healthcare and mental health support.
Q&A
What happened to Bikram Lama in Sydney?
Bikram Lama, a Nepali rough sleeper, was found dead in Hyde Park, prompting calls for an inquest into his death.
Why is there a push for an inquest into Lama's death?
The inquest is sought to address the circumstances of Lama's death and the broader issues of homelessness among non-residents in Sydney.
What challenges do non-residents face in accessing support in Sydney?
Non-residents often cannot access essential services like social housing, healthcare, and work rights, which exacerbates their vulnerability to homelessness.
