Police treat man's fall to death from Cairns balcony as suspicious

Police are treating the death of a 24-year-old man as suspicious after he fell seven storeys off a balcony at a hotel in Far North Queensland.

Emergency services were called to the Rydges Hotel on the Esplanade at Cairns around 1.30am, after the man plunged from the seventh floor.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, after guests staying on the first floor discovered his body.

Detective Senior Sergeant Edward Kinbacher said at this stage, the death was being treated as suspicious.

He also said a 19-year-old man was assisting police with their inquiries.

“One man is presently in custody who was occupying a room with that individual at the time,” he said.

“He is presently hospitalised (for an arm injury) and we will talk to him in due course.”

However, he could not say whether or not the man had been pushed off the balcony.

It is understood the teenager has possible fractures and police are investigating whether a fight took place before the older man's death.

The pair worked together and had travelled to Cairns from the Tablelands that day with other friends.

Police have spent the day combing the room for evidence and speaking to witnesses at the hotel.

The 24-year old-man’s immediate family has been advised of his death.