A student who reportedly fell from height while running away from tear gas in Tseung Kwan O on Sunday night has died, in what is believed to be the first fatality directly linked to police action over the ongoing anti-government unrest.

The computer science student, from the University of Science and Technology (HKUST), had been in a coma in Queen Elizabeth Hospital since the suspected fall, with a brain injury.

Chow Tsz-lok, 22, had been found lying injured in a car park at Sheung Tak Estate, and it was believed he could have fallen there from the floor above.

Shortly before, police had fired multiple rounds of tear gas after coming under attack by protesters throwing bottles and bricks.

The death is the first many people have directly linked to the anti-government protests that have gripped Hong Kong for almost five months, although a number of suicides have been attributed to the unrest, in addition to unverified rumours of fatalities following clashes.

The Fire Services Department said on Wednesday that 48 minutes passed between the time when the ambulance was called and when it finally reached hospital.

The department said the road next to the car park was blocked for some reason and the crew eventually had to get to Chow by foot.