The family of a New Zealand man killed in Vanuatu after trying to stop a fight say he would not have hesitated to help someone else.
Former navy diver Hanz Christian, 65, was partying with a woman and her friends in the Planet nightclub in Port Vila, the nation's capital, just before the incident between 1am and 2am yesterday.
A Vanuatu man approached the woman, thought to be his girlfriend, outside the nightclub and allegedly began assaulting her.
Mr Christian tried to stop him, before the man allegedly punched Mr Christian to the ground in front of a number of people, Chief Inspector George Twomey said.
An ambulance was called but Mr Christian died before reaching a hospital.
Originally from Whangapoua in Coromandel, Mr Christian had been living in Vanuatu for about 10 years.
His granddaughter, Amylee Kitto, told The New Zealand Herald her "heart just broke" at the news of his death.
"It's him through and through - he'd always put himself last and everyone else first.
"If he ever saw someone in trouble, he was in there without a thought for himself. He put everyone first whether he knew them or not."
The man accused of punching Mr Christian has been charged with intentional assault causing death, while police are also considering whether to charge a security guard as an accomplice.
"It has been alleged he may have thrown a punch, but it needs to be confirmed and investigated if he could be an accomplice," Inspector Twomey said.
The accused man, 30, appeared in court yesterday and was remanded in custody for two weeks.
NZN