Man dies at Royal Darwin Hospital while in Australian Federal Police custody after May 30 incident

An investigation has been launched after a man who was taken into custody for being intoxicated while boarding a flight died in Royal Darwin Hospital. LATEST.

A man has died while in the custody of the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Picture: Blake Foden

An investigation has been launched after a man who was taken into custody for being intoxicated while boarding a flight died in Royal Darwin Hospital.

Australian Federal Police officers received reports a 68-year-old man was intoxicated and unable to board a flight out of Darwin about 1pm on May 30.

Police said he was taken into protective custody by AFP officers and was initially taken to the Palmerston Watchhouse.

However, before he was admitted a custody sergeant and nurse deemed it necessary to take him to Royal Darwin Hospital for further assessment.

AFP members noticed the man had lost consciousness upon arrival at the hospital.

Darwin Airport. Picture: Floss Adams.

Medical staff were made aware and started CPR and after a successful resuscitation effort transferred him to the Intensive Care Unit in a stable condition for ongoing treatment.

However, the man died in ICU on Saturday, June 7, with the cause of death still undetermined pending a post mortem.

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 first losing consciousness.

The Northern Territory Police Force is now investigating on behalf of the Coroner.

Originally published as Man dies at Royal Darwin Hospital while in Australian Federal Police custody after May 30 incident