Son's discovery of father who died alone saddens officer

Dannevirke Police Senior Sergeant Nathan Davis says "it's so sad". Photo / File

The sudden death of a Dannevirke man, alone in his council flat, has distressed those involved in the case.

"The 67-year-old man passed away in his council flat and was discovered by his son from Taranaki who had come for a visit," Dannevirke's police Senior Sergeant, Nathan Davis, said.

"The son knocked on his father's door, but there was no response. He then went and talked with family and medical professionals and discovered his father hadn't been seen by the medical team for some days."

Mr Davis said the son had returned to the flat, looked through a window and saw his father on the floor.

"It's so sad," Mr Davis said. "I certainly wouldn't want to go through that and the circumstances resonated with me."

Neighbours said they had not seen or heard from the man in a couple of days, but how long he had been dead was being investigated.

The matter is before the coroner.