The grandmother of the man who died while tobogganing in Windsor early Thursday morning hopes people can help with his funeral.

John Forrester, 25, was climbing the hill at Malden Park when he slipped, fell backward and hit his head on a tree, police said.

Forrester was out with friends early in the morning, after they finished work at a local restaurant.

His grandmother, Maxine Forrester, who lives in Windsor, wants to fly her grandson's mother and brother into the city from B.C. for the funeral.

She's setting up an account for people to donate and help cover those costs.

Maxine Forrester was with her grandson the day before the accident.

"We just sat and talked and had such a good time and he just said, 'you know gram, this is the best Christmas I've ever had,'" Maxine Forrester said. "And then he died the next friggin' day."

John Forrester, 25, was climbing the hill at Malden Park when he slipped.John Forrester, 25, was climbing the hill at Malden Park when he slipped. (Facebook)

Sgt. Matt D'asti of Windsor Police Services said the man, one of several downtown restaurant employees who decided to go sledding after work, had just finished a run down the hill at Malden Park at around 1:30 a.m. ET.

D'asti said the man was climbing back up the hill at the popular sledding spot, but lost his balance, fell backward and hit his head on the tree.

Police said paramedics found the man with no vital signs. D'asti said a coroner will determine the exact cause of death.

"Police are treating this as a tragic accident. There is absolutely no indication of any foul play," D'asti said. "This is a group of friends that are well known to each other. They were simply planning on having a fun evening of tobogganing at Malden Park and obviously it ended tragically."

The hill at Malden Park is equipped with lights, but they are turned off at 10 p.m. each night.

The City of Windsor also has a bylaw that states, "All parks shall close at 12 a.m., local time, and shall remain closed until 5 a.m."

John Miceli, the city's executive director of parks and facilities, is preparing a report on the incident.