Manchester firefighter Lee Gaunt found hanged at Stalybridge Fire Station

Mr Gaunt was found hanged by colleagues at Stalybirdge Fire Station in the early hours of Sunday morning

Stalybridge Fire Station, where Lee Gaunt worked (Google Maps)

41-year-old Lee Gaunt, a firefighter for the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, has been found hanged at Stalybridge Fire Station.

A colleague found his body at the station where he worked as a night crew manager at around 4:40am on Sunday morning. Colleagues attempted to revive him, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Tributes from colleagues in unions and the emergency services began to pour in after the news of his death emerged.

County fire officer Peter O'Reilly met Mr Gaunt's colleagues at the fire station and paid his respects, saying that his death had left the service "utterly distraught".

He said: "We are devastated by Lee's death. He was an extremely well liked and popular member of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and we are utterly distraught that he has gone."

"We have contacted everyone on Green Watch this morning and it has left the entire Service in shock. Our firefighters are brave people but this will test our strength to the extreme."

He said the service's immediate priorities would be to offer support to Mr Gaunt's family and colleagues.

Tributes to Mr Gaunt were paid on social media, with Manchester Fire Service responding to hundreds of messages of support from people from Manchester and the rest of the UK.

The service also announced they would be flying flags at half-mast at all their stations in honour of Mr Gaunt.

Secretary for the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) Greater Manchester Gary Keary said: "The Fire Brigades Union are deeply saddened to hear about Lee's sudden passing."

"Our thoughts are with Lee's family, friends and colleagues at this time."

The Samaritans provides a free support service for those who need to talk to someone. It can be contacted through Samaritans.org or on 08457 90 90 90, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year