Friends and family of a former valley man who recently became a first-time dad are mourning his passing after a tragic work mishap.

Chris Laughlin, 28, was working from the back of a truck last week when he fell and struck his head on the ground.

“It was a freak accident,” said pal Darren Haines.

Laughlin was working construction in the Mission-area and was loading a truck.

When the loading was done, Laughlin sat on the tailgate of the truck.

“As it was moving, Chris caught his foot on something and he came off the truck,” Haines said.

Laughlin landed on his butt, but the momentum caused him to be thrown backward and hit his head on the ground.

Haines said death was almost instant.

To add to the tragedy is the fact 6-foot, 4-inch, 265-lb. man — known as “Tiny” to his pals — became a dad to a baby boy, Blake Ryan, just nine weeks ago.

Laughlin grew up in Lake Cowichan, and moved to the Coquitlam about two years ago.

“He was working in the logging industry until that kind of folded, so he went to the mainland,” said longtime pal, Dustin Mayo.

“He was only going to go to the mainland for six months,” Haines recalled.

“But he really started to love the Vancouver area and was making new friends and at some point I knew he wasn’t coming back because his life was there now.”

Despite Laughlin’s size, he was “a gentle giant,” recalled Mayo.

Laughlin will also be remembered for having a heart as big as his giant status.

“He was a great athlete and a community-minded guy who would make sure to get out there to support and help if there was a fundraiser of some type or another out there,” Mayo said.

Added Haines: “He made friends wherever he went and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who had a bad word to say about Tiny.”

Mayo said Laughlin, a Lake Cowichan secondary grad, was a hard worker who also loved sports.

“He was a good hockey player, ball player and golfer,” said Mayo.

A funeral for Laughlin is planned to take place Monday on the mainland.