A death in custody investigation has been launched by Northern Territory police after an Indigenous man died at Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) on Saturday. The 68-year-old man had been in RDH's intensive care unit since May 30, having earlier been "taken into protective custody" by Australian Federal Police officers at Darwin airport. NT police will continue to investigate the death on behalf of the coroner.
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00:00A 68-year-old man from a remote top-end community not named by police died at Royal Darwin Hospital
00:09on Saturday, more than a week after Australian Federal Police say they took him into protective
00:15custody at Darwin Airport for suspected drunkenness.
00:19In a statement, the AFP says their thoughts are with his friends and family.
00:24According to Northern Territory Police, who are investigating on behalf of the coroner,
00:28the man was first taken to the Palmerston Watch House before being admitted and whilst still
00:34in AFP custody, they say the custody sergeant and nurse assessed the male, where it was deemed
00:41necessary to convey the man to Royal Darwin Hospital for further assessment.
00:46Upon arrival at the hospital, NT police say the AFP officers noticed the man had lost consciousness.
00:52In a separate statement, the AFP says on arrival, the man experienced a sudden and
00:58serious medical episode and that he received immediate medical attention and was admitted
01:04to hospital for further care.
01:06In April, the AFP said it was ramping up its presence at Darwin Airport in response to an
01:11increase in passengers that were too drunk to fly.
01:14Over the last 12 months, we've had 30 instances where passengers have been denied uplift for
01:22intoxicated or disruptive behaviour.
01:24Investigators say the exact cause of the 68-year-old man's death is unknown and pending an autopsy.
01:32This is the Northern Territory's second Aboriginal death in custody within two weeks.