A CAIRNS man who fell to his death from the balcony of a Manunda unit is being remembered as a kind and caring man who would do anything to help his friends.

Raymond Drieberg, 42, had invited a few friends over to his third-storey James St apartment on Wednesday night for a party.

About 9pm he walked out on to the balcony and it is believed that while greeting a friend below he tumbled over the railing and landed on the balcony below, striking his head on the way down.

The former Cairns High student is believed to have been planning to meet with old friends as the school celebrated its 25th anniversary later this month and last night there was an outpouring of grief from friends.

“Wish we could have said good bye … You will always be in our hearts. You was a good friend/brother,” one friend posted on Facebook.

Another added: “U were a good friend, there for me when i was youngin. Took me under ya wing in hard times and i’m very grateful. I am so shocked with this tragedy”.

Distressed friends who had been in the unit rushed downstairs and attempted to revive him until emergency services arrived.

Cairns police Sen‑Constable Russell Parker described the incident as a “tragic accident”.

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