Father-of-two Ian Ebbs (43) died after becoming trapped in a printing press at the St Ives Web magazine publishing plant in Fengate, Peterborough, on Monday night.

It was initially believed he had suffered severe internal injuries in the accident, but a pathologist's report has revealed asphyxiation was the cause of his death.

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His father-in-law, Derek Ball, from Werrington, Peterborough, said: "The coroner's office told us the conclusions of the post-mortem were that Ian died due to asphyxia, and the massive injuries that were first mooted weren't in fact there. This has provided some comfort because we know he wouldn't have suffered as much as we had thought at first."

Mr Ebbs lived in Morton, near Bourne, with his wife, Jackie, and their two children Zoe (13) and Matt, who turned 16 yesterday.

Fond tributes have been paid to the caring and devoted father and motorbike enthusiast by other members of his family living in the Peterborough area.

Mr Ebbs is survived by two younger brothers, Christopher and Jamie, and two younger sisters, Rebecca and Michaela, as well as 10 nephews and nieces.

His father, Barry, lives in Dogsthorpe, Peterborough, while his mother, Annie Buckman, lives in Allan Avenue, Stanground.

Mrs Buckman (62), who has been battling cancer for the last four years, yesterday spoke to The Evening Telegraph about her sorrow at the loss of her eldest son.

She said: "With what I have been going through in the last few years, I would never have thought that any of my children would go before me. It isn't supposed to happen.

"Ian was such a good lad – so loving and so funny. His life was his family, and his wife and children meant absolutely everything to him.

"We all knew he had a busy life but any time we called him for help with anything he would be there straight away. Life without him is like being in a vacuum."

His sister, Rebecca Cliffe (37), added: "He was our big brother. We are all still in a state of shock about what has happened to him."

Mr Ebbs became caught in the printing press during a night shift at St Ives Web at about 10.45pm on Monday and was trapped for several minutes before firefighters could free him. Doctors were unable to save his life because his brain had been starved of oxygen for so long.

A spokesman for St Ives Web confirmed the company was still investigating the incident with police and the Health and Safety Executive, and the inquiry was likely to continue for "some time".