A fitter has been crushed to death beneath a dump truck on his first day of work at a major construction site in North Cheam.

The man, in his 20s, was contracted to repair a hydraulic fault with the vehicle being used on the Kimpton Park Industrial Estate.

He suffered fatal injuries when the two-tonne tipper section fell on him as he was checking the underside on Monday afternoon.

The tragedy happened about 10 yards from the playground of Brookfield Primary School.

But a spokesman said pupils had not witnessed the horrific events and the school day continued as normal.

A public footpath that skirts the site boundary from Ridge Road was cordoned off until Tuesday as police and officials from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) started a full investigation. Work has halted on the development of a new warehouse complex.

Detective Sergeant John McQuade, of Sutton CID, told the Sutton Guardian the death was being treated as an industrial accident.

A police spokesman added: "The man was working on a dumper truck vehicle between the cab and its raised loading bed when the two-tonne bed fell on him. We believe the worker, who was on his first day in the job, died instantly."

An HSE inspector said the fitter had been checking under the upper body of the dump truck when it fell at about 2.30pm.

Teesland iDG is regenerating disused land on the estate into 20 high-tech industrial units, with 77 parking spaces and cycling facilities.

In a statement released yesterday, the company said: "As the owner of the Kimpton Park Industrial Estate, we are saddened to learn of a fatality on Monday.

"Everyone at Teesland iDG extends their deepest sympathies to the family and colleagues of the deceased man.

"We are liaising closely with the site contractor, Marbank Construction, and will co-operate as necessary with the police and HSE investigation, which is now under way. The exact details of this incident are, as yet, unclear."

Police have refused to name the man or any companies under investigation.

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