KEY POINTS:
Foreign Affairs is not releasing details about the death of a promising young New Zealand golfer in Dubai last week.
The Khaleej Times reported that Aaron Nicholas Mahoney, 24, was picked up by police after being drunk outside the Al Majara Tower in Dubai Marina, handcuffed and put in a vehicle.
The paper reported that Mahoney, who had been attending a golfing academy, tried to strangle the driver of the police car.
When the other police officer tried to restrain him the car went out of control, hit another car and flipped, killing Mr Mahoney and leaving one of the policemen with serious injuries.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Brad Tattersfield said the incident happened early on Wednesday morning.
He said the ministry was "assisting the family with the case", but the family had requested that any information in relation to it not be released publicly.
He said he hadn't read media reports about the death and couldn't confirm if the details were accurate.
Mahoney's father Paul, a former professional golfer who owns mini-putt courses around the country, told the Herald on Sunday his son's death was traumatic.
Mahoney had only been in Dubai for two days before the incident happened.
- NZPA
