Family with Aussie cop after wall fall

The car park ramp in central Dunedin that an Australian policeman fell into on Saturday. Photo / Gregor Richardson

The wife and sister of an Australian policeman in Dunedin Hospital with a serious head injury after falling from a wall on Sunday arrived in the city yesterday to be by his side.

Dunedin Police Rugby Club president Inspector Matt Scoles said the Australian Federal Police officer played in the Australian Police XV against the South Island Police XV at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.

The officer, from Canberra, attended a social event after the game, he said.

Two men found the 33-year-old man in Bath St, central Dunedin, under the tuatara mural, in the "early hours'' of Sunday morning, he said.

The man had fallen about 4m from a wall into a car park ramp and sustained a serious head injury, Insp Scoles said.

The men who found him administered first aid and called St John.

"If it hadn't had been for those guys finding him when they did, the situation could have been a lot more serious,'' Insp Scoles said.

A St John spokesman said an ambulance arrived about 3.30am. Staff found the man bleeding from his head.

The victim had been conscious when he was taken by ambulance to the Dunedin Hospital emergency department, he said.

Insp Scoles said the injured policeman was in a serious but stable condition yesterday.

A police investigation had revealed no suspicious circumstances, he said.

The man's family arrived in Dunedin yesterday, he said.

"The news was positive around recovery - the length of time of the recovery will be the issue.''

Australian Police Rugby Union officials had remained in Dunedin and "are in a pretty bad way - they are worried about him''.

Australian Police XV players and remaining union management left for Queenstown for the game against New Zealand Police today.

"It's an extremely tough time for players and management of the Australian Police Rugby Union team,'' Insp Scoles said.