This is the young Irishman who fell to his death at the running of the bulls festival in Pamplona.

Aidan Holly (23) from Tarbert in Co Kerry plunged 90 feet to his death on the first day of the Spanish festival.

It is believed he could have been dead for 10 hours before his body was discovered after falling from the 300-year-old historic city wall.

The 23-year-old had travelled to the city in northern Spain last Friday with a friend for the famous “running of the bulls” celebration.

However, the pair became separated during the opening festivities and Mr Holly was alone when the tragic accident occurred.

He is thought to have climbed on top of the historic town wall before slipping and sustaining a severe blow to the back of his head.

Mr Holly’s family in Co Kerry have been informed of his death and one local told the Herald that there is a “great lull in the town today”.

She described the 23-year-old as a “great little fellow who had travelled world”.

“He was always taking off with his backpack,” she said.

A police spokesman in Pamplona said: “A full investigation will be carried out under the supervision of a judge but it appears to be a tragic accident.

“His body was found at 1.45pm on Sunday but the time of his death has not yet been established.

“We have found no witnesses who saw him fall.”

FRIENDS

Mr Holly flew from Dublin to Bilbao last Friday and then made his way to Pamplona by car with friends.

They had planned to spend the nine-day festival sleeping in a car and had not checked into a hotel.

It is a common practice as tens of thousands of revellers descend on the city for the San Fermin festival every year and hotels are always full.

The friend contacted police on Sunday night after hearing a rumour that an Irishman had died from a fall.

An autopsy is being carried out today to establish the exact cause of death.

Mr Holly was not carrying his passport or driving licence when he fell but an Irish bank card lead police to discover his identity.

Mr Holly is survived by his parents Con and Marie, two brothers Conor and David and sister Orla.

He is the fifth person to have died falling from the wall since 1997. Last year an American and his Spanish girlfriend from Valencia both died falling from the wall.

The running of the bulls went ahead in Pamplona this morning with nine people injured.

- Kevin Doyle