A man in his twenties has died in a freak accident after he climbed into a hammock and a wall collapsed on him.
The family of James Douglas, 28, were left "heartbroken" after a garden pillar collapsed onto him at his family home and he died at the scene.
James, a property developer, arrived back from work at around tea time on Good Friday (April 15) and climbed into the hammock at the home in Tunstall Village Green, Sunderland, the Sun reports.
But by 5.30pm, his family had called the emergency services after the garden pillar, which had been standing for 15 years, fell on top of him.
An air ambulance attended along with the North East Ambulance Service and the fire service, but James was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
The 28-year-old had been due to head to the stables that evening with his girlfriend of 10 years, where they had horses, when the tragedy struck.
Devastated mum Lynne Wright, 50, has paid tribute to her "incredible" son after his death over Easter.
"We are all absolutely devastated, completely heartbroken – James had the world at his feet, he was incredible," Lynne said.
"He had everything and he worked so hard, everything he touched turned to gold, he was such a lovely person and was loved by so many people.
"All James did was work and he was brilliant at everything he did, but his life has been tragically cut short."
As well as working in property development, James managed a letting company, funeral business and party event firm alongside his 24-year-old brother, Grant Wright.
Mum Lynne said that Friday was "just like any normal day" so James' death was "a huge shock" to everyone.
She added that you "don't expect things like this to happen to your family."
Sharing how the pillar had been standing for so long, Lynne said she doesn't know how or why it suddenly collapsed onto James after all this time.
A report is being prepared for a coroner so that an inquest can establish the exact circumstances of James' death.
