The death of an Aboriginal man in custody in Alice Springs on Friday will be investigated by the Northern Territory Coroner.

The Department of Corrections said officers provided emergency oxygen as paramedics were called.

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They arrived at 11:43pm (ACST) on Friday and it is believed the 40-year-old inmate died shortly after.

Corrections Commissioner Ken Middlebrook said prison officers followed correct protocol.

“By all the reports I’ve read this morning they’ve done an outstanding job, it’s just very sad that this happens,” Mr Middlebrook said.

In the 1980’s, a royal commission held into Aboriginal deaths in custody made 339 recommendations to try and reduce the number.