Man fled police, fell over cliff: coroner

A coroner has found that a Malaysian man who overstayed his visa drowned in the Murray after evading police.

South Australian coroner Mark Johns has given his findings on the death of Wah Aun Chan, whose body was found in the river near Waikerie, in September 2006.

Chan had been pulled over for a breath test on the Sturt Highway, where police discovered he was staying in Australia illegally.

He resisted arrest then ran off toward the river.

Mr Johns found that Chan fell from a cliff and most likely hit rocks before he landed in the water.

He said spinal injuries would have made it hard for the man to swim to safety.