Mystery as an Australian tourist is found dead on a bed in a hotel room in Bali after investigators wearing COVID-19 protective gear were forced to break through his locked door
- Christopher Steven Tolley, 47, was found dead on a bed in a hotel in Seminyak
- Staff broke into his locked room when he failed to check out at 12.30pm Tuesday
- The time and the cause of death are unknown - he is believed to come from QLD
- A COVID-19 Task Force sealed off the scene and forensic investigations continue
- His body has been taken to Sanglah morgue to be examined for signs of violence
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An Australian tourist has been found dead on a bed in a hotel in Bali after authorities clad in COVID-19 protective suits broke through his locked door.
Christopher Steven Tolley, 47, was due to check out of his Seminyak hotel at 12.30pm on Tuesday but failed to do so.
Staff went to the room to check on him and found a 'do not disturb' sign placed on the front and the door locked from the inside, rendering the hotel's master key useless.
When they peered through a window, accessed from a neighbouring room, a staff member saw Mr Tolley, who is believed to come from Queensland despite his passport saying he's from Sydney, laying still on the bed.
Authorities sent a COVID-19 Task Force to remove the body of an Australian tourist Christopher Steven Tolley who was found dead in a Seminyak hotel on Tuesday
His body has been taken to Sanglah morgue where an examination will be conducted to check for signs of violence
Authorities were called and a COVID-19 task force broke through the door to find him dead.
The cause of his death and when he died are still unknown.
The investigation unit head of Kuta Police, Bagus Nagara Baranacita, said the hotel room had not been fully searched due to fears of COVID-19 and that the virus needs to be ruled out before further investigations can take place.
'If we conduct investigations in the room without knowing the cause of the death, we are worried that our team will be infected by COVID-19,' he told 7News.
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'So, COVID Task Force should do the task first and do a COVID -19 test. After we get the result, we can start to do investigations inside the room.
The room has been sealed off to prevent potential contamination.
Mr Tolley's belongings remain inside room 158 at the Fave Hotel on Sunset Road and no one has been allowed to enter.
Christopher Steven Tolley's passport indicates he was born in Bankstown, NSW, however it is understood he came from Queensland
Bali authorities cut off access to a section of the village (pictured) shortly after the discovery of the body
His body has been taken to Sanglah morgue, in Denpasar, where an examination will be conducted to check for signs of violence.
If signs of violence are detected, Balinese authorities will coordinate with the consulate to speak with Mr Tolley's family to ask for permission to conduct an autopsy.
Mr Barancita said authorities are checking the hotel's CCTV footage.
'We are still doing investigations to find the cause of the death, checking the hotel CCTV,' he said.
Mr Baranacita said multiple witnesses from the hotel were still being interviewed, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Mr Tolley had been staying alone in the hotel room since March 31. It is not known how long he had been in Bali.
Most flights to and from the popular holiday island have now ceased as a result of coronavirus and there are barely any tourists.
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