Man Dies After Falling From Lamppost Putting Up Union Jack Flag

A 60-year-old man named Paul Lumber has died after falling from a ladder while hanging up a Union Jack flag on a lamppost.

As per Bristol Live, Paul suffered fatal injuries after falling from a height while hanging flags near his South Bristol home on November 23. Despite being rushed to hospital, he never regained consciousness from an induced coma and passed away late last week.

Back in October, Paul had started a an online fundraiser to gather funds for additional flags, amassing over £1,000 for his ‘Raise the Colours’ initiative.

While in a coma in hospital following his fall, Paul’s friends set up a second online fundraiser for Paul and his family, which raised £5,000.

A close friend shared: “Paul was widely regarded as one of the area’s most colourful and recognisable characters, A painter and decorator by trade, Mr Lumber was a lifelong Bristol City and England supporter who followed both club and country with unwavering devotion.

“He was a prominent figure in the football casual scene during the 1980s, later chronicling its history in two books about the movements and activities of the City Service Firm, the group associated with Bristol City. Mr Lumber had recently wed Michele, his partner of 23 years. Friends characterised him as a man whose life orbited around those he cherished.”

For what it’s worth,  Paul was amongst the first individuals in the UK to be issued a football banning order upon their introduction in their 80’s, serving multiple prison sentences during his youth for hooliganism.

Pretty sad way to go in the end. Survived all those football riots just to be killed by a lamppost. Just goes to show why it costs councils so much money to pay for proper equipment and safety gear to put stuff up on lampposts, instead of just some guy propping up his own ladder.

Obviously it’s very sad for his family and friends and those who knew him, but this is one of many reasons councils urged people like Paul to stop putting up flags everywhere; in case they got injured or worse.

For the dad who spent 6 hours painting a St. George’s Cross onto the front of his house after someone tore down his England flag, click HERE.