‘Lorry driver’, 21, dies after a metal container falls from a crane and lands on top of him as he unloaded scaffolding outside an 18-storey block of flats
- The victim is believed to be a lorry driver and suffered severe head injuries
- Emergency services are still on the scene and police have cordoned off the area
- An air ambulance also attended the accident in Eastbourne, East Sussex
- Did you see the incident? Email james.wood@mailonline.co.uk
By Terri-ann Williams and Alexander Robertson For Mailonline
Published: 08:30 EDT, 8 August 2019 | Updated: 12:09 EDT, 8 August 2019
A man has been killed after a ‘heavy’ metal container fell on top of him this morning outside an 18-storey block of flats.
It is believed the victim is a lorry driver and suffered severe head injuries after being hit by the object when it fell from a crane in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
The man, 21, had been unloading scaffolding from the back of his lorry when the container fell from a height and hit him on the head.
Emergency services rushed to the scene following numerous 999 calls from horrified residents of the South Cliff Tower in Bolsover Road.
The building in Eastbourne (pictured above) where a man in his 20s is said to have fallen today
Police were on the scene today in Eastbourne and cordoned off the area after a man was killed after scaffolding collapsed on him
The street in Eastbourne is a residential area and after the incident police had to disperse a growing crowd
Onlookers gathered after four ambulance vehicles, an air ambulance, police and the East Sussex Fire Brigade arrived at the scene just before 11.30am to tend to the critically injured lorry driver.
The helicopter landed on the green at Holywell in King Edward’s Parade in the seaside town.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics, the victim was tragically pronounced dead at the scene after he suffered a massive head injury. Police had to disperse the growing crowd of concerned dwellers.
Janet Winter, a 60-year-old resident of the flats, said: ‘It is really upsetting. Nobody saw the accident fortunately, everybody’s eyes were elsewhere, it is very distressing.’
The man is believed to have fallen from this scaffolding (pictured above) in Eastbourne
Emergency services are still on the scene.
A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service told MailOnline: ‘At 11.20am this morning we sent three response cars and an ambulance to Bolsover Road, Eastbourne to attend a man serious injured by a falling heavy object.
‘We sent three response cars and the air ambulance also attended.’
Did you see the incident?
Email james.wood@mailonline.co.uk
A spokesman for Sussex Police said: ‘Police were called to a report of a man who had suffered serious injuries after being hit by a heavy object which had fallen from a crane in Bolsover Road, Eastbourne.
‘The workman, aged 21, sadly died at the scene in South Cliff Tower despite efforts by paramedics and other emergency responders.
‘His next of kin have been informed and the road remains closed while the incident was being dealt with.
‘The Health and Safety Executive have been informed.’
It was understood that a coroner’s officer was already at the scene and Health & Safety Executive officials were on their way to investigate what happened.
A post-mortem examination will be carried out later to establish the exact cause of the driver’s death and a report will be prepared before an inquest is opened.
A Health and Safety Executive spokesman said: ‘HSE is aware and assisting the police.’
Did you see the incident? Email james.wood@mailonline.co.uk
Officers were today parked on Bolsover Road (pictured above) following the fatal accident
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