Couple could hold key to unexplained Hamilton death

Police investigating the sudden, unexplained death of a man in Hamilton. Photo / Supplied

Police investigating the sudden, unexplained death of a man in Hamilton say a couple seen nearby may hold clues to the fatality.

Two men returning home from a university orientation event called 111 after finding a 32-year-old man lying unconscious in the northbound lane of Hillsborough Tce beside the Waikato River about 1.05am today.

The man, a visitor from overseas, had a serious head injury. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he died at the scene, Detective Senior Sergeant Nigel Keall said.

Mr Keall said police spoke to many people this morning and expected to interview more.

"The Operation Monsoon team would like to speak to a man and a woman seen embracing outside a property on Anglesea St near and above where the man's body was found.

"We believe this couple were of Asian nationality and that they may have seen our victim shortly before he met his death."

A resident on Anglesea St, where the man fell from, said he heard noises after midnight but didn't think much of it.

Peter Bell was dozing when he heard running footsteps on the path outside his house and then a yell.

"I heard a cry like a 'yoh'. Like surprise."

Mr Bell said he believed the man must have come to the edge of the street, which overlooks Hillsborough Tce, without realising it.

A railing and thick shrub boarded the cul-de-sac, which dropped off down a steep bank without warning.

Public access steps on the other side of the road were blocked off by fencing for construction work.

A cordon was established and guards secured the scene today.

Mr Keall hoped a post-mortem in the next few days would help identify the man.

"At this point in time all police would confirm is the we can confirm is the deceased is a 32-year-old male of dual nationality and we are working with consular officials to build on this," he said.

A police spokesman said the man had dual nationality, but would not say what those nationalities were.

Mr Keall said anybody with information on what happened should phone Hamilton police on 07 858 6200.