THE young man who fell from a 'party bike' after taking ill was last night described as "one of the kindest, hard working and most courageous" people following his death.
Niall Lyttle from Glengormley passed away on Sunday, four days after becoming ill on the tour and falling from the multi-seat vehicle in Belfast city centre.
It is understood he had been on a team-building exercise with staff from Queen's University when it happened in the Amelia Street area. It is believed he may have suffered a heart attack.
Staff from Wee Toast Tours, which operate the bikes, went to his aid and he was transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital.
But police last night said they "can confirm that a man involved in a fall from a moving vehicle in Belfast city centre on Wednesday 14 November has died in hospital.
"A post mortem examination will be carried out in due course, however, the death is not being treated as suspicious at this time."
Jennifer Kenna, from Wee Toast Tours, said they were "all very sad about Mr Lyttle’s passing".
"We are aware that he was living with an underlying heart condition," she said.
"It is sad for all of us at Wee Toast Tours that he had a heart attack and it happened during his Wee Toast Tours experience. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family."
Tributes have been paid to Mr Lyttle, with many remembering him as a "gentleman" and someone who was "always funny and full of life", while others said he had a "smile that was infectious".
He was a member of the inline hockey club, East Coast Blaze, which plays at Valley Leisure Centre in Newtownabbey. In a statement, it said it had "experienced a great loss... Niall Lyttle has been taken far too soon".
"It’s with heavy hearts that we share this news and ask everyone in our community to watch over his loving mother Sharon," they said.
"The Lyttle family has been such an integral part of ECB and we consider ourselves lucky to have had Niall to be apart of our ECB family.
"He was one of the kindest, hard working and most courageous young man we’ve had the opportunity of knowing.
"He turned into a gentle giant just like his father and he was a cheeky chappy that always loved putting a smile on your face.
"Niall's spirit will live on and he’ll be remembered every time we put our jersey on."
Mr Lyttle was a former pupil at Edmund Rice College, leaving the school in June 2017 after completing his A levels.
"Niall will always be remembered as a wonderful pupil who always had a smile on his face, with such a warm and positive personality," it said.
Requiem Mass for Mr Lyttle will be celebrated on Thursday at St Bernard's Church at 10am followed by burial in Carnmoney Cemetery.
