A TRAGIC father who died after plunging 25 feet from a wall during a family holiday was today hailed as a hero by a neighbour who watched him grow up.

Brian John Whitham, 32, of Rutland Street, Accrington, suffered fatal head injuries after the falling from the wall, which appeared to be just 5ft 6in from one side.

And today pensioner Alice Hothersall revealed how Brian had courageously attempted to revive her late husband Harry when he collapsed in the snow earlier this year.

She added: "Brian discovered my husband lying in the snow and raised the alarm.

"He and his common-law wife Sarah did all they could to help and spent a long time outside with him.

"Sadly Harry didn't make it but I will never forget what they did. Brian was a grand lad."

Mrs Hothersall said the holiday was a well deserved break following the birth of the couple's young son Ryan, just five months ago.

She said: "There was a whole crowd of them going and they were really looking forward to it.

"Sarah has a big family and they were going away with them. This is so sad."

Brian, who also had a daughter from a previous relationship, had been out with friends in the Dorset resort of Swanage when the accident happened.

Dorset police say the engineer, who worked for Noel L and Sons, Oswaldtwistle, fell from a wall opposite the Black Swan public house in the town's High Street.

He was pronounced dead on route to Poole General Hospital following the accident early yesterday.

The tragedy is still a mystery to Brian's mother, Jean Macfarie, of Lonsdale Street, Accrington.

Today she sobbed: "We still do not know what happened."

A police spokesman said: "This is a very sad incident. The man was in high spirits during a holiday night out with friends.

"He may not have realised there was such a high drop on the other side of the wall."

The coroner has been informed and an inquest will be held on a date to be fixed.

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