An 82-year-old man has died after being confronted and stabbed as he rode on a cycle path through Rotterdam.

Police found the seriously injured man lying on the cycleway beside the Delfshavenseweg after being called out at around 10.15am on Sunday.

He was given first aid and airlifted to hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.

A 46-year-old Polish man who is suspected of carrying out the attack was arrested later on Sunday morning.

The Telegraaf named the man as Leen and said he was well known at a local gym, where he worked out four or five times a week.

“He was very fit, slim and in good shape,” one woman told the newspaper. “He was 82 but you wouldn’t have thought so. He was always friendly and greeted you with ‘Hello love, how’s it going?’ and a high five.”

Police said they wanted to speak to witnesses who had been in the area of the Spaansebrug bridge, between Rotterdam-Overschie and Spaanse Polder.

They appealed for witnesses to come forward, especially anyone who was approached by the suspect, who was reported to have behaved aggressively towards other passers-by.

Police described him as a white man with short hair who was dressed in black and did not speak Dutch.