A MECHANIC who fell 30 feet from his garage roof has lost his fight for life.

Family and friends today paid tribute to Wayne Pablo, 35, who they say lived life to the full and will be greatly missed.

Wayne, who lived with his retired parents in Preston Old Road, Cherry Tree, Blackburn, fell through the roof of his new workshop in Feniscliffe Drive on April 3 while watching his dad Raymond, 69, carry out some repairs.

Wayne, a mechanic for eight years, had bought the work place just two months earlier.

The fall, on to a concrete floor, left him with head injuries, three broken ribs, a punctured lung and a broken collar bone.

Surgery was carried out to drain a blood clot from his brain and fluid from his lung but his parents and brother Mark, 36, were told last week that he would not awaken from his coma.

Wayne, who was affectionately known to friends as Stig and Grease-monkey, died at the Royal Preston Hospital yesterday morning.

Mum Jean, 66, said: "We didn't want him suffering but this should not have happened at all."

She and Raymond had visited the hospital every day since Wayne was admitted and prayed for his recovery.

They had earlier described their son as a well-known, loveable and friendly man who got along with everyone he met.

Owning his own garage, they said, had been his life's dream and father and son had worked most days until midnight to complete the work.

Wayne Pablo Motor Engineers had been open just two weeks before the accident.

Ross Walker, who owns Livesey Service Station, said: "His ultimate goal was to have his own garage, a Range Rover and a place in York. It's a tragedy that this has happened to Wayne at this time in his life when everything was going in that direction for him.

"He was a mate and a business associate and I can remember the support he gave me at the garage, which was greatly appreciated.

"He was definitely one on his own, a real character, and wouldn't be frightened of taking on any task. He was keen as mustard.

"We would fight like cat and dog between 9 and 5 but always found time for a pint together afterwards.

"My thoughts at this terrible time go to Ray, Jean and Mark."

Stewart Holden, manager of Livesey Service Station, Livesey Branch Road, said: "This is a sad time but nobody would want to go on as he was.

"I have a lot of memories I will cherish of Wayne. One of the fondest is of him standing at the bar with three bottles of alco-pops in one hand and 40 fags in the other with a big smile on his face ready for a night out.

"Wayne lived life to the full. He worked hard and played hard."