TRIBUTES were today paid to a student nurse who died after falling down a flight of stairs at a nightclub.

The funeral of Joel Shiers, 24, will take place on Friday in his home town of Southampton following the tragic accident at Maxims nightclub, Eastbourne.

Mr Shiers was enjoying a night out with friends when he fell down the staircase leading from the toilets on the first floor to the main ground floor area.

A paramedic crew was called to the club, in South Street at 1.10am on October 20 and spent half an hour at the scene.

He was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital, where he had worked and studied since May this year, but later died from his injuries.

A post mortem to establish the cause of death was carried out yesterday and Eastbourne coroner's officer Mick Davey said an inquest is expected to be opened and adjourned today.

The accident is being investigated by Eastbourne Council environmental health officers.

Gary Stevenson, head of environmental health, said initial investigations had found no fault with the flight of stairs.

He said: "We have been carrying out an investigation with the co-operation of staff at Maxims. We have looked closely at the flight of stairs and have found no problems.

"Our investigation is continuing and we may know more once we receive the postmortem report. The cause of the death so far looks like an extremely tragic accident."

A Maxims spokes-man declined to comment.

A family spokes-man, speaking on behalf of Mr Shiers' mother Jane, said: "We know his many friends will miss his sense of humour, sparkling wit, keen intellect and compassion as much as we will.

"We are all so lucky to have known such a wonderful person."

Mr Shiers graduated last year from the University of Brighton after studying a Critical and Fine Arts

Practice degree at

the university's Grand Parade site in Brighton.

He dreamed of a career in nursing and rejoined the university as a student nurse, working at Eastbourne District General Hospital and living at Fleming House, an accommodation block at the hospital.

A hospital spokes-man said he had hoped to specialise in psychiatric nursing.

Kathy Martyn, senior lecturer in nursing and midwifery, said: "Joel was a well respected and likable young man who was extremely popular with both patients and colleagues.

"He had a promising career ahead of him and his death is a terrible tragedy."

The memorial service will take place

at the East Chapel, Southampton Crematorium, at 1pm on Friday.

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