Kevin Whitrick, a father of two, shocked chatroom users when he appeared to hang himself from the ceiling of his home on Wednesday night.

He was pronounced dead by police who forced their way into his home in Wellington after being alerted to the incident by an internet user. Whitrick was pronounced dead at the scene.

"An investigation into all the circumstances surrounding his death has been launched and police can now confirm that Mr Whitrick was using a webcam in an internet chatroom at the time of his death, " a police spokesman said.

Detective chief inspector Jon Groves, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are liaising with the internet service provider to contact other users who were online at the time of this incident and who may have information that could assist our enquiries."

Friends of Whitrick said the breakdown of his marriage and the recent death of his father had put him under strain. A post-mortem examination is being carried out and an inquest is likely to be opened next week.