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A man in his 40s has died after he fell from an Eleventh Night bonfire in Belfast. <\/b><\/p>\n
It happened in the Braniel housing estate in the east of the city on Friday night.<\/p>\n
It is understood he was taken to hospital on Friday night and died on Saturday afternoon. He has been named locally as Warren “AKA” Lyttle. <\/p>\n
In a joint statement three local groups involved in Braniel’s Eleventh Night commemorations said they were “heartbroken” by his death, which they described as a “tragic accident”.<\/p>\n
Police are investigating the circumstances of what happened, and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has been informed.<\/p>\n
Local residents who were there on Friday night told BBC News NI the man fell from the structure.<\/p>\n
They said a minute’s silence would be held for him.<\/p>\n
A statement announcing his death, published on social media, was attributed to the Braniel Bonfire Committee, Braniel Loyal Flute Band and Braniel Community Group. <\/p>\n
They said their thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies were with Mr Lyttle’s family and friends “at this incredibly difficult time”.<\/p>\n
“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,” they added. <\/p>\n
Bonfires were due to be lit in the estate on Saturday night as part of the community’s annual Battle of the Boyne commemorations. <\/p>\n
The bonfire organisers said they had held discussions with the man’s family who had “expressed their wish for the bonfire to proceed as planned”. <\/p>\n
“After careful consideration, we have decided to honour their request”, the organisers added.<\/p>\n
They now plan to hold a one minute silence for Mr Lyttle before the bonfire is lit at 21:00 BST and have asked attendees to join in with the tribute. <\/p>\n
The group also requested that once the bonfire has been lit that “everyone pays their respects by dispersing quietly and respectfully afterwards”. <\/p>\n
Bonfires are lit annually in some unionist areas across Northern Ireland in July to usher in the Twelfth of July, the main date in the parading season.<\/p>\n
The majority are lit on 11 July, known as the Eleventh night.<\/p>\n
The Twelfth commemorates the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 when the Protestant King William III defeated Catholic King James II.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n