Frenchman dies in Sydney jail cell

Police are investigating the death of a 27-year-old Frenchman in a western Sydney jail cell.

The official said the man, Herve Youdom, had arrived in Australia on June 18.

The man's body was found in his Silverwater jail cell this morning.

It is understood the man was arrested on Friday and spent the evening in Surry Hills police cells before being transferred to the remand centre at Silverwater.

A French consulate spokesman said the consulate had not been notified of the death.

He was arrested for offensive behaviour during an altercation with a pilgrim at the World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney last week and charged with wilful obscene exposure and resisting arrest, the spokesman said.

The man was on remand after being refused bail last Friday.

A spokeswoman for Corrective Services confirmed the death in custody but would not comment further as the death was now the subject of a coronial inquiry and no further comment would be made.

Police are preparing a report for the coroner.

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