A Sydney Ernst & Young employee found dead in the company’s George St office is understood to be a foreign national whose husband was flying back to Sydney at the time.
The woman had returned to her workplace after allegedly being escorted from work drinks at the nearby Ivy bar and nightclub, with new details revealing a tragic new timeline.
The body of the 33-year-old woman was found by police at the global accounting giant’s head office shortly after 12:20 a.m. on Saturday.
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It is now believed that he was in the building for just 20 minutes before his death, according to The Australian, which reports that police determined the time his security card was used to access a secure courtyard on the upper level of the building.
He reports that she was found by others in the office who called the police, and that the cause of death was likely the result of self-harm.
Police confirmed to 7NEWS.com.au that officers were responding to a report of welfare concern and the circumstances were not being treated as suspicious. However, the police are investigating and preparing a report for the coroner.
The woman’s husband was in the air flying from Singapore to Sydney at the time of his wife’s death, and was informed of the news on arrival, The Australian reports.
It also reports that the 33-year-old woman had been with the company for only six months.
Ernst & Young told 7NEWS.com.au that it had contacted the husband to offer support, and that the firm would launch “a wide-ranging internal review encompassing health and safety, security and social events” in response to “the tragic weekend events.
“We are deeply shocked and saddened,” said Ernst & Young CEO David Larocca.
“Our director of mental health will be part of an ongoing review and has been instrumental over the weekend in providing ongoing advice and guidance.”
Reports from The Australian say the woman had been escorted from the nearby Ivy bar and nightclub due to intoxication at 7:30pm, two hours after the staff-organized event began.
He also reports that police are investigating the role of alcohol in her death, despite noting that security footage did not show her showing any obvious signs of intoxication.
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