Man who died in police custody at Darwin hospital remembered by Wadeye community
The 68-year-old — referred to as TN after his death — was a senior elder from the Kardu Rak Kirnmu clan and traditional owner who lived in the community on the Top End's west coast, formerly known as Port Keats.
TN was taken into protective custody by Australian Federal Police (AFP) at Darwin airport on May 30 and was later admitted to Royal Darwin Hospital's (RDH) intensive care unit, where he died on Saturday.
Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan said TN's "work for his community and people will never be forgotten".
"My heart goes out to his loved ones and all mob across the Wadeye and Darwin Daly regions," he said in a statement on Sunday.
"His legacy will live on."
The Thamarrurr Development Corporation (TDC), of which TN was a board member, also released a statement saying he was a much loved and respected mentor to his community.
"A great visionary and educator, a campaigner for a better life for his community and a respected leader, he will be greatly missed," a spokesperson said.
"He played a key role in developing and guiding TDC to become the organisation it is today."
Catholic Bishop of Darwin Charles Gauci said he had known TN "for many years" and "had the privilege of being with [him] on the day he died", saying he was "deeply saddened at his death".
"I was able to accompany him on the last day of his life, I was in the hospital with his wife and family and to pray with him and to be there with them, walking with them at this very significant time," he said.
"I have great respect for him as a great leader, he had vision and understanding, he was a very educated man.
"He believed in education as empowerment and he was an educator for many years himself.
"He was co-principal at the school at Wadeye and really contributed deeply and widely there for the education of young people."
Bishop Gauci said TN's loss would leave "a big gap", calling on other leaders across the community step up and continue his "vision of two way".
"Two way means be deeply connected with your roots and your culture and celebrate that but also, be open to the realities of life and adapt," he said.
An AFP spokesperson said the 68-year-old man was taken to RDH for "sobering up" after being detained on May 30 for allegedly attempting to board a flight while intoxicated.
"The man was taken into 'protective custody' by AFP officers under section 128 of the Police Administration Act (PAA) at Darwin airport," they said in a statement.
"AFP officers then transported the man to a Darwin hospital where he could be supervised and monitored while sobering up."
The PAA allows police in the Northern Territory to apprehend a person without warrant, if the officer believes they are intoxicated in a public place.
Under the legislation, a person can be apprehended if police believe they are "unable to adequately care for" themself, may "cause harm" to themself or others, may "intimidate, alarm or cause substantial annoyance to people" or are "likely to commit an offence".
The AFP spokesperson said the man experienced a "sudden and serious medical episode" upon arrival at RDH and was admitted to intensive care, where he remained until his death on Saturday.
However an NT Police spokesperson said shortly after he was taken into AFP custody, the custody sergeant and a nurse assessed him at the Palmerston watch house "where it was deemed necessary to convey the man to RDH for further assessment".
NT Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said the "devastating loss" would be "felt deeply across the territory" and to have two deaths in custody in less than two weeks was "beyond tragic".
"[TN] was a respected and strong leader — valued for the guidance he provided to those he worked alongside and the outcomes he helped deliver for his community," she said in a statement.
"I know many Territorians will be feeling a profound sense of grief and shock at these two lives tragically cut short.
"My thoughts today are also with our police, first responders and hospital staff who are always there for the community in the most difficult of circumstances."
Local member for the Daly region, Dheran Young, said his thoughts were with TN's family and community.
"Your vision, leadership and advocacy inspired us all," he wrote on social media.
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