DAVID CAIRNS was a 'brilliant dad', a family man and a hero of the rescue at the Aberfan disaster.

When a huge mountain of slurry poured down onto the children of Pantglas school and surrounding houses in 1966, Mr Cairns (pictured) was one of the first to rush to help.

On Wednesday, engineer Mr Cairns fell to his death from the roof of a three-storey building in Bridgwater, Somerset.

The 64-year-old from Mill Common, Undy, fell three stories from the roof of H and F Conditioning in Express Business Park at 7.30am.

He was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, but died later that day.

"We are in complete shock, it was terrible. We can't believe it has happened," said his daughter Lisa Cairns, 33.

His son Jonathan, 29, said he was proud of his father: "He was a brilliant dad, the best you could have.

"He was always there when you needed to talk and he always put the family first."

Born in Glasgow, Mr Cairns led a full life, travelling the world from Australia and South Africa to America and meeting the Queen.

Mr Cairns was one of the first rescuers on the scene of the Aberfan disaster which killed 144 people - of which 116 were children.

"My dad would put everyone before himself, he was one of the first on the scene at the Aberfan disaster and helped save several children," daughter Lisa said.

"He was working with IG Engineers in Cwmbran at the time and when he heard the news he and his colleagues downed their tools and went straight to the scene.

"He was helping to shovel out the coal waste to save the people underneath until the emergency services came, like the hundreds of other Aberfan heroes."

His daughter described how if her dad saw someone in trouble, he would immediately go to help.

She said: "He always put others first, I remember when he saved a dog from a frozen boating lake and when coming home from Cardiff once he helped lift up a lorry to save a man trapped underneath."

Mr Cairns had been in the Merchant Navy, a lifeguard and a fisherman. "My father loved life and was a perfectionist in all he did. He was very caring and committed, a selfless man," said Miss Cairns.

Mr Cairns had a great passion for rugby and played the game until he was in his fifties.

"He was in the Newport High School Old Boys rugby team, he loved rugby and played it until he was 58," said his widow, Judith, 59.

"He loved writing and was planning on doing a masters in English Literature and writing full time when he retired," said Miss Cairns.

The 'well loved' and 'respected' man was due to see both his children get married this summer.

Miss Cairns said: "He was really looking forward to the weddings and was going to give me away."

Mrs Cairns added: "In times of stress he had the gift of saying the right words.

"He was my best friend, I will miss him so much, life for me will never be the same again."