Australian man among five dead from suffocation on PNG barge

An Australian man and four others have died in a mishap on a transport barge in Papua New Guinea.

The man's name hasn't been officially released but the PNG Loop news website identified him as Stephen Woolcott, who was running a diving resort at Kabaira on the north coast the Gazelle Peninsula on New Britain.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said consular assistance has been offered to the man's family, and officials stood ready to assist if required.

PNG Loop said six men were found collapsed at the foot of a ladder in the hold of the barge Colossus at Kokopo, the capital of East New Britain, on Wednesday.

Despite prompt attempts at resuscitation, only one man could be revived. The other four dead were PNG nationals.

Barge captain Lai Waqalevu, who led the rescue, told PNG Loop it appeared the men suffocated from lack of oxygen in the airtight hold.