Kiwi police officer Matt Ratana died of a gunshot wound to the chest after the gun was fired ‘multiple times’, according to investigation

A coroner has heard how the former New Zealand officer, Metropolitan Police Sgt. Matiu (Matt) Ratana, was shot in the chest after being shot “multiple times” by a handcuffed suspect inside a police station.

The Mailonline reports that the 54-year-old man was shot while preparing to search the suspect who had smuggled a contraband revolver into the custody room in Croydon, south London, on September 25.

Ratana, who hails from Hawke’s Bay and worked with Auckland police for five years, was closing in on the shooter when the shots were fired at point-blank range.

Police had not yet spoken to the alleged gunman, reportedly named 23-year-old Louis De Zoysa, who is in critical condition after shooting himself during the incident.

Mailonline reported that the suspect was not identified at the investigative hearing.

Detective Superintendent Nick Blackburn told the coroner the gun was fired “multiple times” and that a revolver was later recovered from the scene.

Blackburn also said in the investigation that the suspect had been arrested by officers on Pollards Hill in South London at 1.30am.

He was handcuffed and detained on suspicion of possession of ammunition and a class B drug.

The suspect was taken to the Croydon Custody Center and placed in a holding room where he remained handcuffed.

“Custodial Sergeant Matt Ratana walked into the waiting room,” Blackburn said. “The suspect fired the gun multiple times, during which the sergeant and the suspect were injured.”

Ratana was taken to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, but pronounced dead at 4:20 a.m.

Blackman said the preliminary cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest.

The Mailonline reported that none of Ratana’s family members, including his associate Su Bushby, were at the hearing. It is understood that Ratana’s son wanted to listen remotely from Australia, but the technology failed.

Ratana’s New Zealand family previously told the Herald they were “devastated.”

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern posted her condolences on Facebook, saying she was “incredibly saddened by the news.”

The father of one was only two months into retirement and previously helped protect Princess Diana, the queen mother and former prime minister.

The investigation was postponed until a later date.