A 17-year-old diabetic boy has died at a migrant reception centre in Ceuta.

The teenager was found unresponsive at the La Esperanza centre on Thursday morning after a roommate went to wake him.

The boy had arrived in Ceuta during the mass border crossing from Morocco at the end of July and had since been placed under the care of the autonomous city’s authorities.

He suffered from type 1 diabetes and was insulin-dependent, with authorities reportedly aware of his condition and monitoring him since his arrival.

According to police and health sources cited by Europa Press, the teenager was up to date with his medical checks but suffered episodes in which his blood sugar became either dangerously high or low.

An uncontrolled fluctuation in his glucose levels is currently considered the likely cause of his death, although an autopsy is being carried out to establish this conclusively.

RTVE reported that the teenager had attended a hospital check-up as recently as September 1. Its latest information suggests he may have suffered severe hypoglycaemia overnight.

Roommates raised the alarm

The teenager was sharing a room with other young migrants at the centre.

Local reports said one of his roommates went to wake him early on Thursday morning and realised something was wrong after finding him unresponsive.

Staff and emergency services were alerted, but the teenager could not be saved.

His body was removed at around 7am and will undergo an autopsy to determine the definitive cause of death.

The boy had been considered cooperative with his treatment and had undergone regular blood-glucose monitoring.

El Pais reported that he had been moved from the Piniers facility to La Esperanza specifically because the latter offered greater medical supervision for his condition.

According to the latest figures cited by RTVE, around 1,475 unaccompanied young migrants remain in Ceuta, far exceeding the city’s normal capacity.

Health workers have faced the additional challenge of identifying and caring for new arrivals with chronic conditions requiring continuing treatment, including diabetes, asthma and conditions requiring dialysis.

There is no indication of foul play in the 17-year-old’s death.