Neighbours helped stop Wellington man's fatal bleeding before death

Neighbours of a man who died from injuries in Wellington yesterday recalled their efforts to save his life.

Tanya Hohoa was celebrating her partner Trent Tasi's 30th birthday at their Strathmore home, when she heard a smash from nearby.

Soon after, there was a tapping at the window - it was their neighbour, a young man, who was bleeding heavily.

"He said he had a little cut, so I didn't think much of it," Tasi told 1News, "but I told Tanya to go call the ambulance."

As the man sat on his front steps, she dialled 111 and rushed over to his property with a towel, "ripping" through the locked fence gate separating them.

"I felt like I wasn't fast enough," Hohua said with welling tears, "I finally got in and had seen blood everywhere."

Tasi caught up to her, the two taking turns stopping the man's bleeding with the towel, talking to him to keep him conscious.

"The only thing he responded to when I was talking to him was [when] I told him it was my birthday," Tasi shared, "and he said 'happy birthday', but that's the only response I got."

The couple said their 111 call lasted more than 18 minutes, ending once paramedics arrived.

"To think it was 18 minutes, it's ridiculous just because we tried so hard, then it all went wrong," Hohua said. "It's like, why? It just makes us feel guilty."

Police said the man was taken to hospital in critical condition, but he soon succumbed to his injuries.

He was a familiar face to Tasi and Hohua, their community being a friendly and familial place for them and their young kids.

"We're a really tight community and we all know each other quite well, and he was great with our kids," Hohua said, "He was always like going to the shop buying the kids lollies and my kids loved them. He was like an older brother."

"I remember you know the young cheeky boy that used to walk past my gate and say hello," Tasi said, "He's always been a respectful kid.

"It just felt like a fail. We kept him alive as long as we could."

Police today would not confirm how the man was injured, yesterday calling it a "family harm" incident. Neighbours said he had been cut and was heavily bleeding.

The home where he was fatally hurt has been cordoned off for two days, as well as where he walked to seek help. Police say they are speaking with witnesses.

In a statement to 1News, Wellington Free Ambulance ambulance said "they acknowledges this a very distressing time for the members of the community and whanau who have been involved and impacted by the tragic incident yesterday.

:As this is an active Police matter it would not be appropriate for us to discuss specific details. The neighbour's involved who made the call to 111 are able to contact us directly at any time."