KEY POINTS:
The death of a Napier man whose body was found in a drain at the weekend was not suspicious, a post mortem has revealed.
Alan Ross Wilkins, 50, was found by his son lying face down in a drain in a greenbelt reserve in suburban Maraenui at 11am on Saturday.
Mr Wilkins had been watching a rugby match with friends on Friday night and had set off to walk home as he was too drunk to drive, his son Steven said.
Detective Senior Sergeant Bill Gregory of Napier CIB said a post mortem was completed last night and police believed Mr Wilkins' death was an accident.
"We now believe that Mr Wilkins has accidentally fallen down the steep bank of the creek as he made his way home on Friday evening," he said.
"The injuries he has were received as he fell down the bank and came in contact with the concrete edge of the drain. These injuries were not in themselves likely to be fatal but the head injury has possibly caused him to lose consciousness."
Mr Gregory said police had completed their inquiries and were satisfied there were no suspicious circumstances.
Early reports that Mr Wilkins had been robbed of a sum of money were incorrect, he said.
The matter would now be referred to the Napier coroner.
- NZPA
