LOCAL businesses and tradesmen are rallying round to help complete the house extension a doting father was working on when he fell to his death. Paul Fenwick, 31, who was known as "Podgie", plunged to his death in front of his entire family as he worked on an extension at his home.
Mr Fenwick, a maintenance worker for Dove House Hospice, died instantly after he fell 14ft on to concrete from a scaffolding tower at his home in James Reckitt Avenue, east Hull.
His stepfather, Nick Baldwin, an experienced builder, had been providing expert advice to Mr Fenwick.
Now, Mr Baldwin – spurred on by kind offers of help from East Yorkshire businesses and tradesmen – has vowed to see the job through to completion.
Mr Baldwin, 49, owner of N Baldwin Building Services, near Thorngumbald, said: "I am determined to get this work finished.
"The majority of the lads who work for me grew up with Podgie, so they're also really keen to lend a hand.
"People want to give their time for free to this project. I think it's fantastic."
The tragedy was witnessed by Mr Fenwick's family, including his parents, his partner of 11 years Ixchel Morris, 28, and their two-year-old son Noah, who had all arrived to see the work.
Two weeks before the tragedy on July 1, Ms Morris had given birth to the couple's daughter Emilia Chloe.
Mr Baldwin, who has been married to Mr Fenwick's mother, Pam, for 23 years, revealed how he taught his stepson the basics of construction.
He was not present when Mr Fenwick died.
"Podgie learned most of his skills from me," he said. "He worked for me for a bit after leaving school.
"If you showed him how to do something, in a couple of hours he had got the hang of it.
"Podgie was one of those people who wanted to give things a go. He was not one for sitting around doing nothing.
"We have all really been affected by his death."
Mr Fenwick began digging the foundations for the 7.5m by 4.8m, two-storey extension in February.
"I was helping whenever I could, fitting it around my other jobs," said Mr Baldwin.
"Podgie would always be ringing me up, pestering me and asking me questions.
"He was really keen to get it finished."
Since the tragedy, Mr Baldwin and his workforce have spent every spare moment they have making the "shell" secure by completing brickwork and fixing tiles to the roof.
Amazon Windows in Copenhagen Road, east Hull, has donated doors and windows worth about £2,000.
"Podgie had ordered the windows and they had already been made before he died," said Mr Baldwin.
"Amazon has told me they very much value my custom and they would like to donate the windows and some French doors. It's fantastic."
Mr Fenwick's father, also called Paul, said: "Podgie would be so grateful that his family are being looked after in such a way and that burdens are being taken off them.
"He would be so overwhelmed with the love and support from everyone. Thank you."
• Are you the owner of a building company able to donate supplies? If so, call Nick Baldwin on 07960 834834.
