Floral tributes by the playground at the Canning Town Recreation Ground.

Passers-by made a gruesome discovery last week when the body of a man was found hanging from a children’s climbing frame in Canning Town Recreation Ground.

The alarm was raised after the body of Dean Moriarty was found by a member of the public at the park, in Freemasons Road, at around 8.30am last Wednesday. Paramedics arrived but pronounced Mr Moriarty dead at the scene.

The 42-year-old, who neighbours say worked in the building trade and had two sons and a daughter, was known to as someone who was always willing to go out of his way to help people.

He is thought to have lived in Harpley Square, Stepney since separating from his wife five years ago.

Pam Sweeney, who lived nearby, said he used to help her with decorating and other odd jobs around the house.

“He was just a lovely fellow”, she added. “He’d always come and do bits for me.

“We are all absolutely shattered – it’s very upsetting.”

Elaine Hayden, 37, and her partner Paul Armstrong – who went to school with Mr Moriarty – saw him regularly.

“It’s unbelievable”, said Elaine. “We all had a drink with him on New Years Eve, and we were all having a laugh and a joke.

“He was a really mellow person.”

The police are not treating the death as suspicious.