THE family of a Valleys man who died tragically on a festive night out paid tribute to him yesterday.

Aaron ‘Hedgy’ Edwards, 61, fell at The Commercial Hotel, Abertillery on Friday, December 30 and it is believed he died from head injuries he sustained.

While the lorry driver had lived in Manchester for 16 years, his sister Sue Stokes, 59, said his heart remained in Blaenau Gwent and he returned every Christmas to spend time with his family, friends and former team-mates from Cwmtillery RFC.

Mrs Stokes, of Clarence Street, Abertillery, said: “We don’t know what to do without him.” She is already missing the constant “hilarious” jokes he’d send her as text messages.

She added: “None of us can get our heads around it. He was healthy and was here in the morning laughing and joking, looking forward to going out with his friends. Then later that evening he’d fallen and died.”

The former miner was described as a “loveable rogue who everyone loved” and “a hero” who lived life to the full and was excited about holidaying in Mexico and possibly marrying partner Janet Fleming this year.

He was born in Llanhilleth and had five siblings – Paul, Ivor, Sue, Daphne and Iris – as well as a daughter, Nicola, 39, who lives in Swansea, and grandchildren Gavin, Lauren, Connor and Robert.

The former Gelli Crug school pupil moved to Manchester to live with Ms Fleming after meeting her while working as a long-distance lorry driver. But, each year he returned home between December 26 and 30.

His sister believes the fall that killed him might be attributed to a badly injured leg, which he sustained while working.

A pallet fell on him and, while he had numerous operations, he still had trouble walking and regularly fell over.

She added: “While he lived away, he was an Abertillery boy and everyone here loved him.

“He just lived life to the full and was 30 in his mind, not 61.

“We’re just struggling to come to terms with it.

“He was going home in the morning (the 31st) for New Year’s Eve, but fell and this happened.”

A post mortem examination is due to take place tomorrow.