Post-mortem shows Ashburton man drowned

Scene where the body was found. Photo / File

An Ashburton man whose body was found in an industrial area of the town drowned, police say.

The body of Arran James Gairns, 34, of Ashburton, was found in a water run-off area behind a group of shops yesterday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Marion Neill said a post-mortem examination indicated Mr Gairns had drowned.

"At this stage we are continuing to treat the death as unexplained. Investigations are continuing into how Mr Gairns came to be in the area where he was found," he said.