Australian tourist died on Christchurch footpath

The man had previously had a heart attack in Australia and was in New Zealand on holiday

An elderly Australian tourist died on the footpath after stopping on his way to hospital in Christchurch this morning.

The man appeared to have had a heart attack about 3am on the corner of Durham and Gloucester St, Canterbury Police senior sergeant Jim Currie said.

The man, in his 70s, felt unwell and asked his partner to drive him to hospital, Mr Currie said.

On the way he felt worse and asked her to stop so he could get out of the car, but he died at the scene.

"Early this morning he asked his partner to take him to the hospital. He's felt unwell so asked his partner to stop, got out of the car, and has passed away on the footpath," he said.

The man had previously had a heart attack in Australia about five weeks ago and was in New Zealand for a month-long holiday, he said.

Initial reports that he was driving at the time of the cardiac arrest were not true, Mr Currie said.

A St John Ambulance spokesman said an ambulance attended the incident but the man was dead at the scene.

The death has been referred to the coroner.