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Boiling Water Attack Prisoner Dies Behind Bars
20 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Prisoner Danny Smith died on November 27, 2025, in his cell.
- Smith attacked his cellmate with boiling water and sugar in July 2023.
- An inquest found Smith's cause of death to be 'unnatural'.
Danny Smith, aged 34, has died in custody at HMP Risley. He was found unresponsive in his cell on November 27, 2025, and later pronounced dead by paramedics. The cause of death was officially deemed 'unnatural' at an inquest hearing, leading to an independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.
This incident follows a violent assault Smith committed in July 2023 at HMP Altcourse. He attacked his sleeping cellmate with a kettle of boiling water mixed with sugar, an act referred to as 'prison napalm.' The attack stemmed from an argument over a vape, resulting in burns to the victim's arm and neck.
Smith was sentenced to 16 months for the assault. His legal counsel noted past difficulties with sharing cells and potential mental health issues. A full inquest into his death is scheduled for October next year, with authorities offering condolences to his family and friends.
