Wellington death believed to be accidental

Wellington Police do not believe the man found in a storm water culvert near Chaffers Marina on Sunday afternoon was the subject of foul play.

Officer in charge of the Wellington CIB Detective Inspector Paul Basham says preliminary results of a post mortem examination carried out yesterday and extensive enquiries conducted by Police indicate the man's death was accidental.

Police are now able to name the deceased man, as next of kin have been advised. He was 43 year old Peter Black of Johnsonville, Wellington.

"Whilst the Coroner will determine the exact cause of death, it appears Mr Black dropped his car keys down the storm water culvert and had attempted to retrieve them. Police recovered a set of keys in the storm water culvert belonging to the deceased, as a result of a thorough scene examination."

"We will continue to conduct enquiries on behalf of the Coroner."