House cordoned off after death

A residence which was cordoned off yesterday as a precaution following the death of woman in hospital. Photo / Paul Taylor

A Hastings residence was cordoned off for almost 24 hours yesterday after its owner died in hospital on Tuesday night.

The woman was admitted to hospital about a week ago and died there last night.

Hawke's Bay CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Martin James said her empty home on Cunningham Cres was cordoned off as a precaution.

The cordon was put in place about 5.30pm on Tuesday, and removed just after 2pm yesterday.

District Command Centre Senior Sergeant Dan Foley said police had initially been treating the woman's death as suspicious. After a post-mortem revealed the woman had died of natural causes, Mr Foley said there was now no need for a scene examination.

He said the woman didn't have any injuries, and as she was in her late 30s or early 40s they thought she was "a bit young to just die". She had been unwell previously.

A nearby resident said ambulances had visited the residence multiple times in the past week.