Murray Bridge man who fell to death remembered as “beautiful man with a heart of gold”

A well-known Murray Bridge man who died in the heart of his home town has been described as a “beautiful man”.

The family of a man whose body was found in the heart of Murray Bridge on Monday night have described him as a kind and caring person who liked to help others.

The mother and brother of popular Murray Bridge man Craig Hollands told The Advertiser he was a “beautiful man with a heart of gold”.

Craig Hollands has been remembered as a king man who loved his family. Picture: Supplied.

Just after 7pm on Monday, January 23 police were called to the bottom of a cliff near Bridge Street after a man was found deceased.

Police confirmed the man was a 51-year-old man of no fixed address who had been camping in the area.

Dean Hollands - who lives in Port Pirie - said his brother was his “best mate” and he had planned to visit him before hearing the “devastating” news of what has been described as a shock accident.

“We were told he fell 30 metres from the cliff near a campsite in the bush in the heart of Murray Bridge … he always liked to live in the bush so he had a campsite, solar panels for lighting, he had everything,” he said.

“That’s the way he liked to live - he didn’t want to live in a house, he didn’t want to pay rent, he just liked to live out in nature.”

Craig Hollands, left, with his brother Dean Hollands. Picture: Supplied.

His mother Kathy Hollands described her son as having a big heart.

“Craig was a beautiful man - he was a dad, a granddad and my first born … he loved his family and loved his animals, he will be sadly missed,” she said.

Murray Bridge residents took to social media to pay tribute to Craig who was a popular story teller around town.

“Our community will be a little less colourful without you,” one social media user said.

“A true gentleman till the end and the best story teller, it was a pleasure knowing you old mate,” another one added.

A camp site on the cliffs near the disused railway ravine police attended to last night.

Concerns on social media turned to the well-known man’s beloved dog which was often spotted camping with him near the river.

However, a Murray Bridge council spokesperson confirmed the deceased’s next of kin had surrendered a dog to a family friend and the animal was safe and well.