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Police are treating the death of a Papamoa man as suspicious, but his family say it was "a tragic accident".
Jason Earl Cranston died on Saturday following an incident at a house in Tauranga on Friday night. The 29-year-old father of two had been at a gathering at the house with workmates when police said a fight occurred.
An ambulance was called and Mr Cranston was treated at the scene by St John paramedics before being taken to Tauranga Hospital.
He died after his life support was switched off on Saturday afternoon.
An autopsy conducted yesterday in Auckland confirmed his death was the result of a head injury.
Mr Cranston's sister, Dionne Farley, said the 29-year-old would be deeply missed, particularly by his fiance and two children, aged 9 and 10.
"He was loved by a lot of people," she said through tears.
She said Mr Cranston and his fiance, who Mrs Farley did not want named, were planning their wedding before he died.
"She had her future in front of her and it's just been ripped away."
Mr Cranston, previously a jib-stopper, was also due to finish an apprenticeship in interior fit-outs for commercial buildings.
Mrs Farley said the family had been told of the circumstances of his death and, though she would not elaborate, said it was "an unfortunate accident".
"We're very close with everybody involved ... It could've happened to absolutely anybody."
She understood police had to investigate the death but said the family was devastated about that process.
Mr Cranston was one of five children and his father, Brian, said he was grieving deeply over the loss of his youngest son.
But investigation head, Detective Inspector Rob Jones, said last night that police were continuing to treat the death as suspicious.
"We know that there was an argument between two persons and other persons became involved and that's the reason behind the suspicious element."
Police had identified a group of about 12 people who were at the gathering at the Brookfield home and were speaking to them individually.
No arrests had been made and a decision about whether charges would be laid would be made after consultation with the Crown solicitor.
The Clifton Tce house remained cordoned off yesterday afternoon as ESR staff conducted a forensic examination.
The house is down a long driveway and neighbours said they had seen little of the events on Friday night.
Lillian Haimona said police told her a man had gone down the driveway to visit people who lived there and had been abused.
Another woman said the gathering was not out of control and she also said that Mr Cranston's death was "just a tragic accident".
