TRIBUTES have been paid to a well-known Island man, who died in front of his son after falling from scaffolding in Ryde.
Dean Marden, 47, sustained fatal head injuries in the accident, which happened at a property in Lind Street on Tuesday afternoon.
Self-employed scaffolder Mr Marden, of Oaklyn Gardens, Shanklin, was working with his son, Colin Marden, 21, when he fell around ten feet and hit his head on the pavement.
He was given first aid at the scene and treated by paramedic but he died shortly after arriving at St Mary’s Hospital.
At an inquest opening yesterday (Thursday), it was said Mr Marden lost his balance while carrying a heavy metal pole and toppled backwards, catching his leg in some railings beneath the scaffolding and hitting his head on the ground.
Island coroner John Matthews described it as a freak accident.
One Lind Street resident, a serving soldier, who rushed to help Mr Marden, said he heard the sound of a metal pole hitting the pavement, followed by screaming.
“There were lots of people around him, his mates and people who had stopped to help,” said the 22 year old, who did not wish to be named.
“I grabbed my army medical kit and put an emergency bandage on the back of his head, to keep pressure on the wound, but I knew he was in trouble because there was so much blood.
“He was unconscious the whole time and there wasn’t much more we could do except wait for the ambulance.”
Floral tributes have been laid at the scene of the accident, which is being investigated by the police and the Health and Safety Executive.
Mr Marden owned his own business, MD Scaffold, based in Shanklin. His father Colin Marden, who also worked in the building trade, died just last month of mesothelioma, aged 70.