A major police investigation is underway after a woman died while being held in a remote Northern Territory watch house over the weekend.
Unconscious Prisoner Found During Cell Checks
Officers from the Tennant Creek police station discovered the female prisoner unconscious during routine cell checks on Saturday afternoon. The watch house is located in Tennant Creek, a remote town situated nearly 1,000 kilometres south of Darwin.
Police immediately began performing CPR on the woman. When paramedics from St John Ambulance arrived at the scene, they continued to administer first aid in an effort to revive her.
The 44-year-old was subsequently rushed to Tennant Creek Hospital for emergency treatment. Tragically, she was declared dead a short time after her arrival.
Cause of Death Unknown, Crime Scene Established
In an official statement, NT Police confirmed that the cause of the woman's death has not yet been determined. A full investigation has been launched, with the incident officially classified as a death in custody.
"A crime scene was established in the watch house and the incident is being treated as a death in custody," the police statement read.
Latest in a Series of Custodial Deaths
This latest fatality has reignited serious concerns about deaths in custody within the Northern Territory. Earlier this year, the deaths of two other individuals in NT custody prompted urgent calls for federal government intervention.
Those cases involved:
- A 68-year-old senior elder from the community of Wadeye.
- Kumanjayi White, a 24-year-old Warlpiri man, who died in Alice Springs.
Mr. White's death, which occurred after he was restrained by police on the floor of a Coles supermarket, sparked vigils and protest rallies across Australia, highlighting a national crisis.
The investigation into the Tennant Creek watch house death remains active as authorities work to establish the exact circumstances that led to this tragedy.
