A SENIOR Australian diplomat who was celebrating the Yes vote victory died after a drunken game of “trust” went horribly wrong overnight in Manhattan.

Police confirmed to News Corp Australia that Julian Simpson, 30, who is from a Melbourne-based family, was killed after falling from a seventh floor roof garden to a second floor terrace at his apartment building at 19 Clinton St in the Lower East Side shortly after 1.40am local time (5.40pm).

They said Mr Simpson and a group numbering about 10 had gone upstairs to look at the Empire State Building, which was lit with rainbow colours to celebrate Australia’s same-sex marriage vote, when he fell.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed in a statement that it was “providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian diplomat who died in New York. The family has requested privacy at this time.”

Foreign Affairs minister Julie Bishop said she extended her “condolences to the family and loved ones of Julian Simpson, a young Australian diplomat who has died in tragic circumstances in New York”.

“Julian was a diligent, professional and highly skilled diplomat, whose support I valued, particularly during UN Leaders’ Week,” Ms Bishop said.

“He will be remembered as someone dedicated to the service of our nation as a member of Australia’s foreign service.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will continue to provide support to Julian’s family, and to other Australian diplomats in New York who have lost a valued colleague.”

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told Sunrise this morning: “It is a tragedy. Our hearts go out to his family. I can’t provide any more details at this stage. It’s a shocking tragedy — a young life lost.”

Senators George Brandis, Penny Wong, Cory Bernardi, Lisa Singh and Rachel Siewert also paid tribute to Mr Simpson in parliament today.

Senator Bernardi, who met Mr Simpson while seconded to the United Nations last year, said it was devastating to hear of his death.

“He was a thorough professional. He was a credit not only to the Australian diplomatic corp but to his family and his wife,” Senator Bernardi said.

“He is taken too soon at 30 years of age.

“It is a tragedy, I want to put that on the record.”

Footage of the rooftop believed to be from where Mr Simpson fell was posted on social media in August.

An NYPD spokesman confirmed the death was being treated as an accident.

Police sources also confirmed accounts given to the New York Post that Mr Simpson died while playing a “trust game”.

Neighbour Lisa Iddings, 40, who has been on the roof from which Mr Simpson fell to his death before, said the railings and walls were low.

Ms Iddings, who lives one building over, said she heard people partying on the roof about an hour before Mr Simpson said.

“I heard them last night but I didn’t know anyone got hurt,” she said.

Ms Iddings was on the roof for the eclipse which swept across the US in August.

Love this: Everything's coming up rainbow in New York City tonight with the Empire State Buildings' lights glowing in solidarity with Australia today. 🌈 #LoveWins #loveislove #marriagesurvey #marriageequality pic.twitter.com/ylZYNilEFs — Chris Macheras (@chrismacheras) November 15, 2017

‘TRUST GAME’

“I will prove it that you can trust me. Let’s play the trust game,” Mr Simpson reportedly said to a 24-year-old man just moments before he slipped and fell, sources said.

Mr Simpson was Australia’s second secretary to the United Nations. He lived with his wife at the Lower East Side apartment building where he died.

He regularly travelled overseas for work, including a recent trip to Ecuador where he was part of a 55-person delegation studying development.

Mr Simpson and his wife had been out with friends for dinner and drinks before the group returned back to the Clinton St residence and went up to the roof to the enjoy the views of the Empire State Building, which was lit up in rainbow colours in celebration of Australia’s same-sex marriage vote, witnesses said.

While on the roof, the diplomat had climbed to a higher roof landing where he began swinging a female friend around, sources said.

Once he put her down, everyone decided to go back inside.

Mr Simpson then went back out on the balcony with a fellow partygoer, a 24-year-old man.

Mr Simpson suggested playing the “trust game” — in which Mr Simpson would lean back on the ledge and trust the man to catch him before he would fall.

EXCLUSIVE: An Australian diplomat plunged to his death from a Manhattan roof after a night of partying with friends while playing a “trust game” https://t.co/1rDwSlZkdU pic.twitter.com/gQlouucnc6 — New York Post (@nypost) November 15, 2017

Mr Simpson reportedly climbed onto the ledge and began to lean back.

The man told investigators that he put his arm out to catch him, but Mr Simpson slipped and fell to his death, according to sources.

Mr Simpson was rushed to Mount Sinai Beth Israel hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police told News Corp the medical examiner’s office would determine the official cause of death.

All those who police interviewed admitted to drinking alcohol that night and police reported a strong odour of booze on those involved, sources said.

The Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations is yet to respond to requests for comment.

My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of 🇦🇺 diplomat Julian Simpson, he served Australia as part of our foreign service. — Steven Ciobo (@StevenCiobo) November 15, 2017

An official at the Australian Consulate-General New York told the New York Post when reached by phone: “We have no comment at the moment.”

Several UN ambassadors have posted touching tributes to their late colleague.

Ambassador Jonibek Hikmatov of Tajikistan posted a heartfelt tribute to his “dear friend.”

“RIP my dear friend, Julian Simpson. Shocked and saddened. My prayers go to the Australian mission to the UN and his family.”

UN ambassador Henry Leonard Mac Donald, Suriname Chair of Third Committee, shared an article and sent his best wishes to the loved ones of his fallen comrade.

“What a tragedy at the UN. My sincere condolence to the wife, family members and Mission colleagues of this Australian diplomat.”