Naked man twist in the death of an elderly man at Noosa beach

A naked man was spotted acting erratically in a popular tourist town just hours before an elderly man was allegedly fatally attacked during his early morning walk.

Police have launched a murder investigation after John Kerr, 87, was found unconscious on the tourist strip at Noosa Heads, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, about 6am on Sunday. 

Bystanders discovered the Noosa local face-up on a concrete path on Hastings Street with severe injuries to his face. He died shortly after emergency crews called to the scene.

A 27-year-old Gympie man – who was not known to Mr Kerr – was taken into custody after he was found 100m away on the Noosa beachfront.

He spent the night in custody assisting detectives with their inquiries before he was later charged over a separate incident – the alleged seriously assault of a 69-year-old man on Hastings Street around the same time. 

A man, 87, died on Sunday morning after allegedly being assaulted on Hasting Street (pictured) in Noosa Heads

Now, witnesses have detailed how they saw a naked man acting bizarrely just streets away from the crime scene.   

A local, who lives around 200metres away on Noosa Parade, said he called police after a naked young man started banging on his door around 3.30am.

‘He bashed the doors continually until the police turned up and said they knew him and took him back to Boosa station [sic],’ he wrote online.

The resident said police told him the man’s brother would collect him once he was taken to the station.

After learning of Mr Kerr’s death, the resident said he contacted police. 

Queensland Police would not confirm to Daily Mail Australia on Monday whether detectives were investigating whether the matters were related.

However, police issued a statement saying detectives are seeking information from anyone who had seen a naked man in the area to contact police.

‘Police are urging anyone who may have seen a man who was naked, or in various stages of undress, anywhere near the northern end of Hastings Street or walking into the Noosa Woods pathways between 5am and 7am yesterday, to contact them,’ the statement said.

Police and detectives are pictured at the scene on Sunday 

A 27-year-old man was arrested on the nearby beachfront and remains in police custody

The disturbing details come after witness Caroline Clarke said she had seen a naked man on the beach being arrested and led into a paddy wagon.

She arrived at the scene just 10 minutes after Mr Kerr was allegedly assaulted.

‘A friend of mine was doing CPR, she’s a nurse. They just stumbled across him, he was lying on the ground,’ Ms Clarke said.

Police believe the second man who was allegedly assaulted was not known to Mr Kerr. 

The 27-year-old will face the Maroochydore Magistrates Court this morning.

A crime scene has been established around the northern end of Main Beach with the area off limits to the public. 

Sunshine Coast Detective Inspector, Chris Toohey, said police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.

‘It is concerning for a male person going out on a walk on a Sunday morning that he has sustained these injuries and tragically died from it,’ he said. 

Homicide detectives have been called in to investigate and anyone with information is urged to contact police

Mr Kerr’s family have released his photograph to the public in the hopes it will encourage more witnesses to come forward. 

THe 87-year-old has been remembered as a ‘well-respected’ golf enthusiast, who had been a member of the local club for 28 years. 

Noosa Golf Club General manager Allan Harris said members were still coming to terms with the shocking news.

‘We are all struggling with the whole incident,’ he told the Courier Mail.

‘Because of his long standing time here, he was well-liked, very well-respected and an active member.’