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Thousands Passed His Body: The Tragic Case of Sydney's 'Birdman'
19 Apr
Summary
- A homeless student died in Sydney, unnoticed for nearly a week.
- Thousands passed his body daily near a busy train station entrance.
- Support services failed him due to his non-resident status.
In Sydney, a young Nepali student, Bikram Lama, died a lonely death in the bushes near St James station's tunnel entrance. Known for feeding pigeons, he was nicknamed the 'birdman' by locals.
His decomposing body lay undiscovered for nearly a week as approximately 100,000 commuters passed by daily. Police struggled with identification, requiring DNA testing from his family in Nepal. Lama had come to Australia to study computer science but lost his visa status.
Experts note a growing cohort of non-residents facing homelessness. They are trapped, ineligible for social housing, Centrelink payments, or public healthcare. This systemic gap prevents support services from assisting individuals like Lama.
Support services and the City of Sydney council have repeatedly lobbied governments to address this issue. Homelessness outreach services can assist non-residents, but temporary or social housing remains inaccessible. This leaves vulnerable individuals without essential support pathways.
