Kiwi dead after possible fall in Polish Tatra mountains

Polish media reported that the man's body was found at the foot of Green Pond in the Gasienicowa Valley in the Tatra Mountains. Photo / 123rf

Polish Police have confirmed a 23-year-old New Zealander died while visiting a mountain area in Poland.

Polish media reported that the man's body was found at the foot of Green Pond in the Gasienicowa Valley in the Tatra Mountains.

The Tatras form a natural border between Slovakia and Poland.

A spokeswoman from the Police Headquarters in Zakopane said the man had no injuries to his body to suggest he had fallen from a height or that he was hurt by someone.

"As the cause of death the doctor indicated hypothermia," she said.

However the incident was still being investigated.

Earlier reports by Fakt24 said it appeared the man died yesterday, probably as a result of injuries sustained in a fall.

They said the man had documents on his body which identified him as a New Zealand citizen.

His body had been airlifted to Zakopane, a town in the south of the country, and a post-mortem would be carried out to establish exactly how he died.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said consular assistance was being provided to the man's family.

Local rescuers told Fakt24 that conditions for mountain hiking in the Tatras were "not the best".

Routes cross the snow which was "hard and frozen" and there were often strong winds which hampered hikers further.