A 40-year-old man has died after falling eight storeys from an apartment balcony on Onslow Avenue in Elizabeth Bay, in Sydney's east, on Sunday morning.
Emergency services were called to the residential building just before 8am. Police officers had attended the complex as part of ongoing inquiries to locate and speak with a 40-year-old man believed to be inside one of the units.
Upon arrival, officers spoke with a 38-year-old woman inside the apartment. She refused to allow police inside and later left the premises while officers remained waiting outside the unit.
A short time later, police outside were alerted that a man had fallen from an eighth-floor balcony. Officers located the 40-year-old man and administered first aid until emergency medical personnel arrived.
Paramedics from NSW Ambulance treated the man for critical injuries, but he died at the scene. NSW Ambulance is the state government agency responsible for emergency medical care and pre-hospital treatment across New South Wales.
Elizabeth Bay, where the incident occurred, is an eastern Sydney suburb known for its high-density residential buildings and harbour views.
Police operation and investigation
Police officers cordoned off Onslow Avenue and surrounding areas while crime scene investigators gathered evidence to establish the sequence of events before the fall.
Detectives from another command have been brought in to lead the investigation into the incident. Their inquiry will examine the circumstances leading to the man's death, including all interactions police had with him prior to the fall.
The deployment of outside detectives is standard protocol in New South Wales whenever a person dies during or following a police operation.
The case will also undergo review by the NSW Police Professional Standards Command, the internal division that investigates police operational standards. In addition, the inquiry will be monitored by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, an independent oversight agency that supervises police conduct across the state.
Appeal for information
Police have not yet publicly released the name or identity of the 40-year-old man. Officers are urging anyone with information that could assist investigators to contact police.
