UPDATED 10.10am A man found dead in Thames is middle-aged and has suffered “unexplained injuries”, police say.

Waikato police Senior Sergeant Rod Carpinter said the man, who is middle aged, was found dead by a member of the public in a service lane between Queen and Mary Sts at 7am today.

The man has suffered “unexplained injuries” and an investigation into how the man sustained those injuries has been launched.

“We are still trying to establish who he is and how he sustained the injuries. We have other specialist staff who are coming to Thames to assist and determine exactly what’s occurred.”

The man’s death has shocked nearby business owners and staff.

Nalin Patel, owner of the Thames Four Square, says the area was cordoned off and a tent erected over the body before he and his staff arrived at work today.

"All we know is that somebody is dead."

He says the service lane that is closed off runs behind his business and is also a busy thoroughfare for busses picking up tourists from the i-Site centre behind them.

The Thames-Coromandel District Council posted on their Facebook that the service lanes behind 6 and 10 Pollen St were closed as police carry out their scene investigation.