Larne bonfire: Man dies after falling from a height

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said it had responded to reports that a man had fallen from a height

The man who died after an accident while helping to build a bonfire at a site in County Antrim has been named locally as John Steele.

He was in his 30s and from the Antiville area of Larne.

It happened at the Antiville bonfire in Fairway at about 21:30 BST on Saturday.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said it had responded to reports a man had fallen from a height. A rapid response paramedic, two emergency crews and a doctor were dispatched.

The bonfire was dismantled and a memorial service was held at the site on Sunday in memory of Mr Steele.

Constructed from stacked wooden pallets, the bonfire stood at more than 50ft (15m) tall.

It was one of many being built across Northern Ireland ahead of the traditional July celebrations.

The bonfire was dismantled on Sunday

They are usually lit to mark the Eleventh night, before the Twelfth of July.

It is part of the commemorations to mark the victory of the Protestant King William of Orange, over the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

Forever missed

Daniel Crawford, a close friend of Mr Steele and one of the bonfire organisers, was there when the incident happened.

On behalf of the organisers, he told BBC News NI: "We are all completely heartbroken at the loss of our friend and brother.

"Our deepest heartfelt condolences to the Steele family.

"He will be forever missed."

Flowers have been left outside the Craigy Hill Presbyterian Church

Rev Ben Preston, of Craigy Hill Presbyterian Church, said he had been to the scene and spoke to Mr Steele's parents.

"As you can imagine they are in deep shock," he said.

"No father, no mother wants see that for their son, for a child.

"There's a sense of stillness about. I walked to church this morning and we're just numb and in shock."

Rev Preston says the community will gather round Mr Steele's family in the days ahead

Rev Preston said it was difficult to see the incident unfold at a bonfire, "somewhere where there is celebration, families and communities gathered".

"You just don't expect something like this to happen."

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP for the area Sammy Wilson, who attended the scene on Saturday night, said the community was in shock.

"It's a terrible tragedy, this should have been a night of celebration," he told BBC News NI.

"A young fella who lived in the area, he was a window cleaner in the area I was told by some people this morning and had been well known, going around the houses from he was a young boy.

"His family live within eye sight of the bonfire site.

"There's a family who is grieving and a community which will feel that hurt as well because he was known, he was doing something which the community were looking forward to, and our thoughts have to be with the family."

The victim, Mr Steele, was a father

Alliance assembly member (MLA) for East Antrim Stewart Dickson said: "My deepest sympathy goes to his family and friends and the whole community as it reflects on this tragic death" he said on Twitter.

UUP MLA John Stewart said the local community would "rally round to give the family as much support as possible".

'Dark cloud'

The Antiville Bonfire Facebook page paid tribute to the man as "a true Antivillian through and through, born and bred".

In a post they said: "A dark cloud has certainly risen over the Antiville estate today.

"Our deepest and sincere condolences are sent from our hearts to his entire family circle at this heart-breaking time.

"Please give the family their time and privacy at this, obviously, hard time for them."

Insp Adrian Bryan said police were appealing for witnesses to the "tragic accident" who were in the area last night.