A man found guilty of killing two people nearly two decades ago has died after an incident in prison

Wen Hui Cui was convicted for murdering his 21 year-old girlfriend, and one of her young friends.

Cui was jailed for a minimum of 19 years in 2004.

He died today after an incident at the Auckland South Corrections Facility in Wiri.

A spokesperson for Serco, which runs the facility, says other prisoners alerted staff to a person in distress.

An ambulance was called and Cui was taken to hospital, where he later died.

The Inspector of Corrections has been advised and the Coroner will be investigating the death