Hunt for death plunge details

POLICE are connecting the dots between a boozy weekend in a Cairns hotel and a young man plummeting to his death from a seventh- floor balcony.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ed Kinbacher said investigators believed only two men were in the Rydges Esplanade Resort room in the moments before one plunged from the balcony on to a first- floor awning about 1.30am yesterday.

“Certainly, the circumstances are suspicious,” he said.

“The two people were work colleagues and had come down ( from the Atherton Tablelands) just to celebrate over the Easter break.”

The 24- year- old man was pronounced dead at the scene while the other man, 19, was hospitalised with a fractured arm and was assisting police.

Sen- Sgt Kinbacher said the workmates were part of a larger group of Atherton Tablelands youths celebrating the long weekend in Cairns.

Police hoped to ascertain whether the duo had been visited by a woman before the fall.

“There were basically two groups occupying separate rooms in the motel, on separate floors,” he said.

“They were just mingling between the rooms during the course of the evening.”

Authorities have notified the “well- known” family of the man who died, and are slowly painting a picture of exactly what transpired.

Police have interviewed hotel guests, including those whose room overlooked the awning where the body landed.

“This incident fell basically outside a hotel occupant’s room, so obviously quite a shocking event for those people involved,” Sen- Sgt Kinbacher said.

Anyone with information related to the incident has been urged to contact police.

“A major incident room has been established and the scene will be guarded for the next two days as forensic examinations, interviews and further investigations continue.”