Three charged over Gold Coast balcony fall

A teenager who fell to his death from the fourth storey of a Gold Coast apartment was trying to escape being robbed at knife-point, police say.

Three men, aged 18, 20 and 22 have been charged with murdering 19-year-old Brisbane man, Cian English.

Officers were called to the foot of the View Avenue building at Surfers Paradise about 3.15am on Saturday after a passer-by found the teenager's body.

Police then found a group of teens in one of the units above. Four were semi-conscious after taking prescription drugs which police believe were stolen from Gold Coast chemist shops last week.

Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith says police will allege three men tried to rob Mr English and a friend at knife-point.

"During the course of that the victim has attempted to escape and has gone over the balcony and died," Det Supt Smith said.

The two groups of people were staying in separate units in the Surfers Paradise building.

Mr English's family issued a statement on Sunday asking for privacy.

"Our family is devastated by this tragedy and respectfully ask for privacy as the police investigation into the circumstances continues," the statement said.

The three men who were arrested overnight have each been charged with one count of murder and two counts of armed robbery.

The 18-year-old will appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court and the other two men in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.

Earlier on Saturday night two 16-year-old boys believed to be from the same group were arrested between View Avenue and the Esplanade for allegedly possessing prescription drugs.