An Auckland man has died after falling down stairs at his bach and lying there alone until he was found on Monday afternoon.
The man, in his 60s, went to his Coromandel holiday home on Friday to prepare for Christmas.
When he did not show up for work on Monday, his family alerted local police in Hahei.
He was found in a serious condition inside the house after suffering a cardiac event and falling down about 25 stairs.
A Westpac Rescue Helicopter from Auckland was called and upon arrival the man's condition was upgraded to critical.