Businessman dies from after-match injuries

An Upper Hutt businessman died yesterday after receiving injuries in a fight following Saturday's All Blacks-Wallabies test.

Stephen Hailwood, 49, was outside the Coach Bar smoking around 9.30pm on Saturday. He exchanged words with another man who had been at O'Reillys bar across the street, and the two came to blows.

The fight ended with Mr Hailwood on the ground, where he was quickly surrounded by other patrons who tried to save his life.

"A number of people assisted to give him comfort and to try to resuscitate him waiting for the ambulance to arrive," said Detective Sergeant Murray Porter of Upper Hutt CIB.

"They did a fantastic job with the limited resources they had available."

Ambulance officers resuscitated Mr Hailwood several times before he was put on life support at Hutt Hospital, where he died at 11am yesterday.

The man who had fought with him left the scene, but police found him yesterday.

"No arrest has been made as yet, but inquiries are continuing with a number of witnesses," Mr Porter said.

No weapons were involved, but until a post-mortem was completed today he did not want to comment on the dead man's injuries.

There was no indication that the two men knew each other and no clear picture what had sparked the fight, Mr Porter said.

"Until we have the chance to speak to the person we've identified as being involved, plus we've spoken to all the witnesses and had the post-mortem, it is hard to make a comment on the circumstances that led to his death."

The area where Mr Hailwood died had several bars in the vicinity, but it was not regarded as a trouble spot, Mr Porter said.

"I think no matter where people go and drink alcohol, on occasions there's disorder through those areas."