A 12-year-old boy has died in Alice Springs after police suspected he sniffed at least two cans of deodorant with a group of teenagers.

Northern Territory Police superintendent Bob Harrison said the boy was found unconscious by an officer at the Coles shopping complex in the town about 8:15pm on Saturday night.

“His attention was directed towards a person collapsed near the Discount Chemist,” he said.

“He checked for vital signs. Finding none, he commenced CPR.

“[Paramedics] conveyed the young fellow to hospital but unfortunately he passed away.”

Police believed the boy had consumed “a couple of cans” of deodorant earlier that night at Billy Goat Hill, a notorious sniffing spot in the centre of the town.

“We received information from a security guard that they’d spotted about eight young people sniffing cans near the hill,” Superintendant Harrison said.

“Unfortunately without pre-empting the coroner’s findings and the autopsy we believe this contributed to the death of this 12-year-old.”

Superintendant Harrison said sniffing deaths were incredibly rare.

“Going back through my memory I can’t recall another [death] in relation to aerosol cans,” he said.

“Yes it is [prevalent] in the centre of Australia but I can’t think myself of a previous death.”

Police were interviewing witnesses and scouring the site for evidence.

“I believe we found a number of cans there so they’ve been exhibited and will form part of the evidence base,” Superintendant Harrison said.