The man found dead after a chemical incident at an Auckland hotel today was facing multi-million dollar fraud charges.
Emergency services outside the Hotel Grand Chancellor Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
The police are investigating the sudden death of 58-year-old Mark Lawrence Ivil, from Tauranga.
The Hotel Grand Chancellor in Hobson Street in Auckland was evacuated late this morning, after a toxic smell was noticed.
St Johns ambulance service said the fire service took Mr Ivil out of the building, and he was put through decontamination, however he died at the scene.
Mr Ivil was facing a number of charges laid by the Serious Fraud Office in July in the Tauranga District Court.
They were 21 charges of obtaining by deception, 14 charges of obtaining by false pretence, two charges of using a forged document and two charges of obstructing an investigation.
The SFO alleged he obtained $4.28 million between 1990 and 2014.
He had a court hearing set for 10am today in the Auckland District Court. The Rotorua lawyer understood to be representing Mr Ivil for his court matters said he had no comment.
Auckland City assistant area fire commander Dave Woon Photo: Radio NZ / Kim Baker Wilson
Auckland City assistant area fire commander Dave Woon said they had been testing liquids they found.
"We've identified the gas as what you'd typically find in a place like Rotorua - a rotten egg smell has been produced by combining a number of chemicals together and we've got those chemicals and containers, and we're disposing of them."
The police said his death was not considered suspicious, and the case will be referred to the Coroner.
Ambulance officers assessed a further 10 patients at the scene who did not need to be taken to hospital.
The Fire Service said the police reported the smell at the four-star Hotel Grand Chancellor this morning, and it was said to be coming from a bathroom on the third floor.
Staff and some guests were evacuated from the Hobson Street hotel, with cordons later removed and staff allowed back inside.
The area surrounding the hotel was clogged with fire engines, ambulances and police cars, and emergency workers were seen using decontamination equipment behind blue tarpaulins.
The downtown hotel is close to the popular Viaduct Harbour and Queen's Wharf areas.
A decontamination shower outside the hotel. Photo: RNZ/Kim Baker Wilson
Emergency personnel in protective gear outside the hotel. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
Fire trucks and ambulances at the scene. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
The hotel is cordoned off and emergency workers in protective clothing are at the building. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
