A BALLOON release is to be held in memory of a "much-loved" man who tragically died in a lift shaft fall in a block of flats. 

Tributes have flooded in following the death of 49-year-old Mark Faulding on Wednesday night. 

Emergency services were called to the scene, at flats on Chapel Street where Mr Faulding lived, at around 6pm on Wednesday to reports a man had fallen in a lift shaft.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "On attendance it was confirmed a male had fallen and suffered fatal injuries."

The spokesperson said police were liaising with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), while a HSE spokesperson said: “HSE are aware and are making enquiries.”

Corinne Wood, 43, who is Mr Faulding's former partner and has two children with him, said he was "extremely well-loved" and thanked all those who had contributed to a fundraising page set up to pay for his funeral. 

She said: "It's amazing what people have donated. It's just amazing."

she described father-of-five Mr Faulding, who also had two grandchildren, as a "loveable rogue" and added: "He was a charmer.

"He just absolutely adored his children, he loved them to bits."

His daughter, Chelsea, said her heart is broken and "shattered into a million pieces".

She added: "I love you with all my heart my dad, I love you."

The GoFundMe page, set up by Corinne, says: "As many of you know it is with the greatest sadness that we have lost the legend that is know to his friends as Fods / Fodders and Big Fods aka Mark Faulding in a tragic accident."

It adds that he was a "much-loved" son, brother and grandfather and "no matter how you knew him you would all agree he was a charmer".

"I have set up this page to help his family give him a send off that they and he would be proud of," says the page.

A sea of floral tributes has been left at the scene and a balloon release is planned for Wednesday (May 26) at 7pm in the field of the former Eccleshill Upper School.