TRIBUTES have been paid to an East Linton teenager who died on New Year’s Day.

Martin McHale died on January 1 after falling in Edinburgh on Hogmanay.

His funeral took place on January 16 at Prestonkirk before a service celebrating his life was held at East Linton Community Hall.

Paul Raffaelli, headteacher at Dunbar Grammar School, paid tribute to the former pupil.

He said: “The whole school was saddened by the news of Martin’s death and we send our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.” After leaving Dunbar Grammar School, Martin went on to study NC Electrical Engineering with Skills for Work at Edinburgh College.

Ian Blyth, engineering lecturer at the college, said: “I was at Martin’s funeral. Martin was like a breath of fresh air and one of our top students.

“He was intelligent, quiet, enthusiastic and funny, just your typical young man enjoying life to the full.

“He had a bright future in the electrical industry after being hand-picked as an apprentice for ScottishPower.

“All the lecturers were devastated and our condolences and thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

“He will be sorely missed.” A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “Police were called to the common stair at 63 South Clerk Street, Edinburgh, around 11.45pm on December 31, following a report of a 19-year-old man having fallen over the bannister from the second floor. The man was taken to Western General Hospital, where he passed away the next day. The death was treated as non-suspicious and a report has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal.” TRIBUTES have been paid to an East Linton teenager who died on New Year’s Day.

Martin McHale died on January 1 after falling in Edinburgh on Hogmanay.

His funeral took place on January 16 at Prestonkirk before a service celebrating his life was held at East Linton Community Hall.

Paul Raffaelli, headteacher at Dunbar Grammar School, paid tribute to the former pupil.

He said: “The whole school was saddened by the news of Martin’s death and we send our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.” After leaving Dunbar Grammar School, Martin went on to study NC Electrical Engineering with Skills for Work at Edinburgh College.

Ian Blyth, engineering lecturer at the college, said: “I was at Martin’s funeral. Martin was like a breath of fresh air and one of our top students.

“He was intelligent, quiet, enthusiastic and funny, just your typical young man enjoying life to the full.

“He had a bright future in the electrical industry after being hand-picked as an apprentice for ScottishPower.

“All the lecturers were devastated and our condolences and thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

“He will be sorely missed.” A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “Police were called to the common stair at 63 South Clerk Street, Edinburgh, around 11.45pm on December 31, following a report of a 19-year-old man having fallen over the bannister from the second floor. The man was taken to Western General Hospital, where he passed away the next day. The death was treated as non-suspicious and a report has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal.”