A MAN collapsed and died outside his home near Ipswich town centre despite frantic attempts by paramedics to save his life, it emerged today.

An investigation is now under way following the tragedy in Rope Walk.

However, police have said they are treating the death of the male, who is understood to have been in his mid 40s, as unexplained.

His name has not been released by officers.

Rope Walk was cordoned off for several hours following the tragedy.

Paramedics were called to a house just before 9pm on Tuesday after it was reported a man was unwell.

Two ambulances and a rapid response vehicle were despatched, with the first vehicle arriving seven minutes after the emergency call.

Richard Dunne, a spokesman for the East of England Ambulance NHS Trust, said the man came out of the property when crews arrived, but then collapsed with breathing difficulties.

The male is understood to have gone into respiratory arrest at 9.14pm.

Despite paramedics trying to revive him, he is said to have gone into cardiac arrest and died by 9.30pm. He was pronounced dead at 9.41pm.

Lisa Miller, a spokeswoman for Suffolk Constabulary, said: “Police were called by the ambulance service to an address in Rope Walk in Ipswich at around 9.20pm on Tuesday after a report that a man was feeling unwell.

“Paramedics attended to the man, who is believed to be in his 40s, but he sadly died.

“As is standard procedure, the man’s death is being treated as unexplained at this time, although this is not considered to be suspicious.

“A post mortem examination will take place in due course. The coroner has been informed.”

One witness said the area was still cordoned off after midnight.

It is the second unexplained death in and around the town centre within four days.

Donatas Kislauskas, 29, of Wherstead Road, Ipswich, was found collapsed in Queen Street, at around 6.50am on Saturday. He had been out the previous evening with friends.