Swiss surrealist HR Giger, best known for designing the ET abomination in Ridley Scott’s Alien, has passed away aged 74.

According to Swiss television, Giger died on Monday from injuries obtained after a fall.

Giger was celebrated for his beautiful, nightmarish ‘biological horror’ visuals, which explored the relationship between machines and the human body.

His first book, Necronomicon, was published in 1977, and was handed to a young Ridley Scott when the director was working on the pre-production of Alien.

“I nearly fell off the desk,” Ridley said back in ’79 of first seeing Giger’s work.

“There are a lot of artists in this area of surrealism and Giger has an extra quality… of reality, combined with his own form of fantasy. That’s what makes it stronger; the reality, not the fantasy.”

As well as his work on the Alien movies, Giger also contributed the infamous Vomit Creature to Poltergeist II: The Other Side, as well as the sexy alien in Species. He also designed an unused version of the Batmobile for Batman Forever. Giger’s designs were always intricate, unique and beautiful, the best kind of gothic. He’ll be greatly missed.

Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.