Police were investigating the death of an Australian tourist this morning following a suspected plunge from a hotel balcony.

Matthew Plant, 40, from Modbury in Adelaide, South Australia, checked into the room shortly before 7 am but around an hour later was found sprawled on the ground in the car park.

Police and paramedics arrived but Matthew was pronounced dead at the scene and a white fence was used to shield his body.

The tourist appeared to have suffered severe injuries from hitting the ground. He had been staying in a room on the 17th floor of the apartment block.

Officers checked Matthew's room and found his passport and an unpacked suitcase. Staff said he had arrived around an hour earlier looking for a room. He rented one on the 17th floor of the building.

Police Colonel Amornthep Petchtim, Deputy Inspector General of Pattaya City Police Station, said: 'We received notification of a suspected suicide at the Talay 6 building.

'At the scene in the parking lot, the body was identified by the name of Matthew Leigh Plant, 40, of Australia. He had broken limbs and a ruptured wound on his stomach. He was wearing a grey t-shirt and blue shorts and dead.

'Searching inside his room, there was deceased's passport and one suitcase inside the room.'

Police said that Matthew had checked in and walked straight up to his room and went out onto the balcony. They said there were no signs of a struggle.

Officers are now investing what caused Matthew to plunge from the balcony in what they believe is a suicide.

The policeman said that officers have informed the Australian Embassy in Bangkok, where consular staff will inform Matthew's relatives.