Hull teaching assistant dies as he tries to climb through window after locking himself out

Phil Smith, 25, fell trying to scale a corrugated roof to get into his home after leaving his keys inside, hitting his head on the ground.

He was found by Kris Lake his housemate, who tried to resuscitate him while an ambulance arrived.

Phil was rushed to hospital with a fractured skull and brain damage and he was put into a medically induced coma, but sadly died five days later on April 9.

His mother Lisa Darnbrough, 49, said: “The response we’ve had from people has been fantastic. We had 20-30 people turn up at his bedside while he was in the hospital. That just showed us how well liked he was.

“The support we had was just so powerful and it was these people who have kept us going.

“While nothing can make things better right now, the help, love and support we have received as made it bearable.

“Phil just had this natural effortless way with people.”

Phil, who lived in Cottingham, Hull, had been working as a teaching assistant at a special needs school in Goole, East Yorks.

It was while he worked at the school that he met his girlfriend Eve Netherwood.

The University of Hull sport science graduate had been recently accepted onto a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) course due to begin in September.

Lisa said: “He was so proud to have been accepted on his PGCE teacher training course and was looking for starting a career that he loved.

“He had a natural talent for teaching children.”

A keen amateur footballer and youth coach, Phil played for Haltemprice in the East Riding County League.

He also strongly involved in charity work, having been an active fundraiser at

the pub in where he had previously worked.

Lisa said: “He did a lot for charity and was incredibly kind-hearted and generous. He had taken part in a charity bike ride for the Teenage Cancer Trust and had taken part in a charity parachute jump when he was 16.”

Phil’s funeral will take place Haltemprice Crematorium tomorrow (Tuesday) at 12.30pm, with as many as 300 people

Lisa said: “The place only fits 200 people, so I don’t know how we are going to fit them all in. I imagine there will be a lot of people standing outside.

“It just shows how well liked he was.

“It is going to be a sad day tomorrow but it is a question of celebrating a

life well lived.”