Workman dies after accident at school building site

A 26-year-old man from Kent died on Monday (October 7) after he was injured while working in a manhole on a building site at Langley Green Primary School on Friday (October 4).

Sussex Police said the man was hit on the head just after 11am and taken by air ambulance to the Royal London Hospital in East London.

A Sussex Police spokesperson added: “Nobody else was injured and no children were on the site which is sealed off from the rest of the school.”

West Sussex County Council said pupils at the school were not told about the death but the school sent a letter home to parents yesterday (Tuesday October 8).

A spokesperson said: “Together with the school we would like to express our sympathy to the family and friends of the man.”

Tony Connolly, a retired resident of Maiden Lane, whose house overlooks the building site, saw paramedics carry the workman to the helicopter.

He said: “We looked out and saw the helicopter just here.

“The doctor came out and he was out for some time and they brought a stretcher back with what appeared to be an adult and safely got the stretcher aboard the helicopter.

“I had no idea he had died. That’s very sad.”

The building work was being undertaken by Balfour Beatty Construction Services to extend the school.

Work has been suspended while police and the Health and Safety Executive investigate the circumstances of the incident.

A spokesperson for Balfour Beatty, said: “Balfour Beatty is working with The Health and Safety Executive and Sussex Police therefore, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”