Pyrmont balcony death: Neighbours mourn ‘friendly’ Michael Irwin after fatal plunge

A MAN who plunged 12m to his death after getting locked out of his Pyrmont flat has been remembered as a caring, helpful neighbour.

Michael Irwin, who fell from a balcony in Pyrmont on Wednesday night. Below is a tribut outside the Harris Street complex.

• READ MORE: Man dies after balcony fall from Pyrmont apartment

A MAN who fell to his death from a fifth-floor balcony after getting locked out of his Pyrmont apartment is being remembered as a “friendly” neighbour who would always help out his quadriplegic neighbour.

Candles, flowers and handwritten notes were placed outside the Harris St complex today to pay tribute to Michael Irwin, affectionately known as “Mick”.

Tributes for “Mick” have appeared around the Pyrmont building.

Michael Irwin, who fell from a balcony in Pyrmont last night.

He died after falling 12m while trying to climb into his apartment window last night.

Neighbour Delleise Walker said she’d just gotten back from the Easter Show when she was greeted by Mr Irwin shortly before his fatal fall.

She said he had called her “Aunty” and asked her to swipe him into the building.

“He was only here minutes before it happened,” she said, adding that Mr Irwin appeared to be intoxicated.

“He told me he’d forgotten his swipe pass to get in.

“I was sitting with my friend … then I heard a big bang and we thought it was a car accident.

“We all ran out — then I saw it was Mick.”

Police at the scene following the incident.

Ms Walker cares for her son Alex, who became a quadriplegic after fracturing his C4 and C5 vertebrae in a rugby game.

Alex and Mr Irwin became “good friends” over the past eight years and bonded over their mutual love of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

“He was also a big Arsenal fan,” Alex said.

“Whenever there was a game on he’d drop by, he was always coming to check on me.

“He just cared about everybody, he was always getting around on his bike and smiling and talking to people.”

Mr Irwin plunged 12m from a balcony of the Harris St building.

Mr Irwin, who had lived in the building for some time was often known as “Mick on the bike” for his preferred form of transport.

The pair had previously warned Mr Irwin about the dangers of climbing in from the balcony.

Another neighbour, Elizabeth Price, said Mr Irwin landed metres away from where she was standing.

“I was virtually right next to where he fell,” Ms Price said.

“I turned around and I was screaming. It’s just gut-wrenching.”

Neighbours say they are shocked by Mr Irwin’s death.

Neighbours said it was not the first time someone had plunged to their death in the complex.

One neighbour, who knew Mr Irwin’s family and didn’t want to be named, said another man had fallen from the fourth level while climbing on the balcony several years ago.

City West Housing owns the affordable housing complex and has sent out letters to residents offering counselling.

Many were visibly upset — one woman broke down in tears when she saw the candles and handwritten notes written to “Mick” and placed outside the building.

Originally published as Pyrmont balcony death: Neighbours mourn ‘friendly’ Michael Irwin after fatal plunge