Man dies after falling from Twelfth bonfire in Belfast

A man in his 40s has died after falling from a Twelfth of July bonfire in Belfast.

It happened in the Braniel Estate in the east of the city last night.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it got a 999 call to the area of Farmhurst Green at 10.14pm.

"NIAS despatched 1 emergency crew to the incident," a spokesperson said.

"Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, one patient was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital."

The PSNI said in a statement that it received a report at 4.40pm today that a man in his 40s had died in hospital following a fall at the site of a bonfire in east Belfast.

"Police are investigating the circumstances of what happened, and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has been informed."

A statement on social media by the bonfire builders, the local flute band and a community group said the man had died after an "accident" at the site.

In their statement, the three groups in the Braniel Estate said they had engaged with the dead man's family and decided to proceed with the lighting of the bonfire later this evening as planned.

"As a community, we are heartbroken by this tragic loss and ask that everyone keeps his loved ones in their prayers in the days and weeks ahead," the statement said.

"We respectfully ask everyone attending to join us in observing a minute's silence...before the bonfire is lit.

"We also ask that, once the bonfire has been lit, everyone pays their respects by dispersing quietly and respectfully afterwards."

Additional reporting PA