Family and friends of Auckland fitness and boxing trainer Paul Wallbank are shocked by his sudden death in Spain last week.
Wallbank was found dead last Sunday in his Valencia apartment.
He had been there working for the BMW Oracle America's Cup syndicate, but was recently laid off.
Speaking from Austria, Oracle skipper and chief executive Russell Coutts told the Herald on Sunday Wallbank's death had hit the team hard.
"It is very, very sad because it was so unexpected and he was so close with so many members of the team."
Wallbank's father, Terry, said his son's death was a mystery.
He said according to his son's team-mates everything had been perfectly normal.
Autopsy results would not be known for a month, he said.
He said the redundancy would not have been a big blow to his son and he had planned to stay in Valencia and set up a training gym.
Wallbank helped train New Zealand's boxing elite, including David Tua.
Coutts and four other Oracle members would accompany Wallbank's body back to New Zealand for his funeral this week.
