A man has died after he reportedly fell from an Eleventh Night bonfire in Belfast.
It happened in the Braniel housing estate in the east of the city on Friday night.
He has been named locally as Warren “AKA” Lyttle.
In a joint statement on social media, three local groups involved in Braniel’s Eleventh Night commemorations said they were “heartbroken” by his death, which they described as a “tragic accident”.
Local residents who were there last night told News NI the man fell from the structure.
They said a minute’s silence would be held for him.
The statement was attributed to the Braniel Bonfire Committee, Braniel Loyal Flute Band and Braniel Community Group.
They said their thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies were with Mr Lyttle’s family and friends “at this incredibly difficult time”.
“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.
Bonfires were due to be lit in the estate on Saturday night as part of the community’s annual Battle of the Boyne commemorations.
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”.
“After careful consideration, we have decided to honour their request”, the organisers added.
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.
The group also requested that once the bonfire has been lit that “everyone pays their respects by dispersing quietly and respectfully afterwards”.
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.
The majority are lit on 11 July, known as the Eleventh night.
The Twelfth commemorates the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 when the Protestant King William III defeated Catholic King James II.
