A man has been charged with murder following the death of another man at a camping ground near Ebor, east of Armidale.

Emergency services were called to Thora, 25km north-west of Bellingen, shortly after midnight on Monday, where NSW Ambulance paramedics found a 33-year-old man had died after suffering critical head injuries.

Officers attached to New England Police District were told the man had allegedly been struck with an axe about 10.30pm Sunday (1 March 2026), while camping with two friends near Ebor, east of Armidale.

A friend, a 25-year-old woman, had driven the man from Ebor to Thora to seek help.

She told police she had also been assaulted and was treated for bruising to her neck.

A crime scene was established at a camping ground off Point Lookout Road, Ebor, about 80km east of Armidale.

New England detectives – with assistance from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad – commenced an investigation into the incident under Strike Force Ullmark.

Following inquiries, a 26-year-old man was arrested on Waterfall Way, Ebor, at about 11.30am.

He was taken to Armidale Police Station where he was charged with three offences, including murder, intentionally choke person with recklessness, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The man, from Thora, has been refused bail and will appear in Bail Division – Court 5 today, Tuesday March 3.