An Indigenous n has died in hospital after federal police stopped him from boarding a plane when they claimed he was drunk.
It’s the second death in custody in a fortnight in the Northern Territory, following that of young Aboriginal man Kumanjayi White on May 27 after he was restrained by plain-clothes NT officers in an Alice Springs supermarket.
In the latest incident, a 68-year-old man was prevented from joining a flight out of Darwin on May 30 after federal officers received reports of him being intoxicated, NT Police said in a statement.
He was taken into protective custody – in the NT someone who is intoxicated can be detained for up to 10 hours to protect themselves and others – and driven to the Palmerston Watchhouse.
At some point, the custody sergeant and nurse deemed it necessary to take him to Royal Darwin Hospital for assessment. Upon arrival there federal officers noticed the man had lost consciousness, prompting medical staff to immediately commence CPR.
Resuscitation efforts were successful and he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit in a stable condition for ongoing treatment for what was a suspected medical event, NT Police said.
The man died in the ICU on Saturday, nine days after he was brought in, and NT Police said his next of kin had been notified. An official death in custody investigation is underway.
‘The cause of the man’s death remains undetermined pending a post mortem (examination),’ territory police said.
‘The incident is being investigated as a death in custody as the man was in the custody of the AFP at the time of him first losing consciousness.’
An AFP spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday individuals in protective custody are not under arrest and the man was ‘not restrained at any point by AFP officers’.
The AFP confirmed the man was detained under the public intoxication section of the NT Police Administration Act.
The man was taken to hospital so he could be ‘monitored while sobering up’ and he presented no medical concerns while being transported, the spokesperson said.
But when he arrived at the hospital he ‘experienced a sudden and serious medical episode’ and lost consciousness.
The officers involved are being supported by AFP welfare officers.
NT Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
In the case of Mr White, rallies continue across the country to demand justice, calling for an independent inquiry into his death.
13YARN 13 92 76
Lifeline 13 11 14