Police have launched a homicide investigation after the body of a man was found near Lismore, on the New South Wales North Coast.

Emergency service crews were called to Fischer Street in Goonellabah about 6:20 am, after the body of a 25-year-old man was found on a nearby walking track.

The discovery was made about three and a half hours after a second man was found with serious head injuries in the same area.

The 31-year-old was taken to Lismore Base Hospital, the flown to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.

Police believe the men might have been involved in a brawl at nearby Clifford Park in the early hours of this morning.

The investigation is being led by officers from the Richmond Police District, assisted by the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad.

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