Dozens of people held a midday vigil in Brisbane for an asylum seeker believed to be 'brain dead', ahead of twilight vigils across the country this evening.
Hamid Kehazaei, 24, was airlifted from Papua New Guinea to Brisbane last week for emergency treatment for a life-threatening skin infection.
Yesterday, refugee advocates claimed Mr Kehazaei had been declared brain dead.
Those attending the Brisbane vigil called for the Manus Island detention centre to be closed.
The vigil, held outside the Mater Hospital, is part of a series of vigils in capital cities across Australia.
More than 1000 people had signed up to an online invitation to join the twilight vigils, organised by various organisations around the country.
Attendance at the vigils sent the hashtag #hamidkehazaei trending on Twitter.
Mr Kehazaei developed septicaemia from an infection which spread from a cut foot. Septicaemia occurs when disease-causing bacteria enters the bloodstream.
The hospital told his family a legal guardian will be appointed to make the decision about the withdrawal of life support.
Vigil for 'brain dead' Iranian asylum seeker Hamid Kehazaei at Brisbane hospital @SBSNews #manus #png #refugee pic.twitter.com/dfN2t1TAnh
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