Gardaí are investigating after an elderly man died after falling down an escalator in a Cork City shopping centre.

The death occurred when the man, who was in his seventies, appeared to fall while in the Merchant's Quay centre at 3.30pm.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is being reported that the man was accompanied by his wife, who was on the escalator with him and witnessed the incident.

Cork City Fire brigade confirmed that it attended at the scene alongside members of the ambulance service and the gardaí.

CO11A1, CO11B1 and CO11L2 assisting @AmbulanceNAS with a Serious Incident in Merchants Quay Shopping Centre #cork pic.twitter.com/4T2YiREqHS — Cork City Fire Brigade (@CorkCityFire) May 31, 2018

The scene was sealed off for a technical examination and CCTV footage is also likely to be reviewed.

It is expected gardaí will be preparing a file for the Coroner's Court.

- Additional reporting by Digital Desk