Drinking binge not to blame for student's death

A 17-year-old Dunedin youth has died in hospital tonight after collapsing into a coma.

Sergeant Chris George of Dunedin police, said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and the case had been referred to the coroner.

A post-mortem would be carried out tomorrow, Mr George said.

Police were quoted earlier as saying the youth had gone into cardiac arrest after a four-day drinking spree.

But a statement earlier tonight from a Dunedin Hospital medical team, speaking on behalf of his family, said his condition was "totally unrelated to alcohol or drugs".

Police were called to a house in suburban Caversham at 10.50am yesterday by St John Ambulance staff after the teenager collapsed.

- NZPA