Naked bin prank led to man's death

11:26am Friday 4th July 2008

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A DRUNKEN prank to entertain watching revellers ended in tragedy when a man fell 20ft to his death.

Alex Davison, 37, died after spending the afternoon drinking in his home town of Whitley Bay.

Friends, who described him as the life and soul of the party, say he had joined a group of men on a stag party.

They say he climbed up on a bin opposite 42nd Street bar, on the promenade, and stripped off, to the delight of people outside the bar.

But tragedy struck when he toppled over and fell onto the concrete 20-feet below.

Two paramedics who happened to be walking along the beach at the time of the tragedy on Saturday evening, ran to administer first aid.

He was taken to North Tyneside General Hospital where he was declared dead.

Mr Davison had a young daughter, and was the youngest of four brothers.

His brother Andrew, 44, from East Boldon, South Tyneside, said: "He was a great lad who was always very generous.

"He was the life and soul of the party and would love to be centre of attention. He would light up a room when he came in.

"At least he would have died with a smile on his face."

Close friend Rob Wilde, 38, from Whitley Bay, said: "I drove past and saw the police cordon and only stopped to have a nosey. I couldn't believe it when I realised it was Alex.

"He was one of my best mates - but he had countless best mates.

"He was the heart and soul of the party. Parties won't be the same without Alex.

"He was crazy and always doing daft things. When I think of all the things we used to get up to and he ends up dying after falling off a bin.

"It's such a waste of life."

His funeral will be held at Whitley Bay Crematorium at 1pm on Monday.