THE "tragic" death of a 48-year-old man outside a Newquay club at the weekend will not have long-term repercussions on the town's reputation, say police and community leaders.
Shockwaves continue to ripple through the community after keen angler Michael 'Mick' Kearns, of Newquay, died outside Sailors nightclub during the early hours of Saturday morning.
Initially, a murder investigation was launched and four men were arrested on suspicion of the crime.
However, the men have since been released on bail and police say the case is no longer being treated as a murder enquiry.
The Newquay Safe Partnership, police and community leaders have sought to distance the death of Mr Kearns from the events of 2009, when two teenagers died after falling from cliffs after nights out in the resort.
The shocking events put the resort in the national media spotlight but community leaders have maintained that the death of Mr Kearns is "isolated" and that the town's image will go unharmed in its wake.
Rob Andrew, Newquay Safe project manager, said: "This is a tragedy. Our thoughts go out to the family members of the person who has passed away.
"Newquay Safe is working with police. We want to find out what the cause was and if there is anything we can do in the future to stop it from happening again.
"It appears that young people were not involved in this which has been the problem in the past.
"It is unfortunate that this has come at the start of the summer. Hopefully Newquay will continue to flourish."
Newquay inspector Dave Meredith said he believed the death was "an isolated incident" which will not have any repercussions on Newquay in the long term.
He said: "We are not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident. I would like to reassure the public that the police are treating this death as an isolated incident.
"The management and staff of Sailors nightclub are cooperating fully with the police investigation."
Police and paramedics were called to the club at around 3am on Saturday morning.
Mr Kearns was unconscious and not breathing when police arrived. Staff at the club and police officers tried to resuscitate him until the ambulance arrived.
But he was taken to Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Newquay Safe Partnership was launched following the deaths of Paddy Higgins, 16, and Andrew Curwell, 18, in a bid to shed Newquay of its reputation as a haven for drunken revellers.
Newquay Mayor, Kevin Towill, said of Mr Kearns' death: "It is a very sad event. Our thoughts are with his family and friends."
The four men have been bailed until July 23. The investigation is ongoing.
