KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - A university student fell to his death when he tried to climb into a hostel room at Universiti Malaya to retrieve his handphone.

Zulkhairi Azmi Md Bukhari, 19, a first year science student, was at his friend's unit on the 5th floor of a hostel on the campus ground at about 2pm yesterday.

As the friend was about to leave, he reminded Zulkhairi to lock up.

Zulkhairi, who returned to his unit on the 3rd floor half an hour later, realised he had left his handphone at his friend's place.

He returned to the 5th floor and told a group of students staying next door that he had left his handphone at his friend's place and needed help to get in.

However, the students did not have the keys.

Zulkhairi then attempted to climb into his friend's room through the balcony. Despite objections from the students, he stepped onto a pipe railing from the balcony but lost his footing and fell about 50m below.

Brickfields police chief ACP Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said Zulkhairi, who suffered severe head injuries, a broken arm and leg, died on the spot.

"There was no foul play and we classified the case as sudden death," he said.

Zulkhairi's father, when met at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre mortuary last night, declined to be interviewed.

This is the second incident involving students falling to their death from a hostel unit.