A MAN has been crushed to death beneath a dump truck which fell on him during his first day of work at a construction site.

Andrew Ferrie, 26, from Theydon Bois, was contracted to repair a hydraulic fault with the vehicle being used on an industrial estate in North Cheam. He suffered fatal injuries when the two-tonne tipper section fell on him.

Mr Ferrie's body has been released to his family and his funeral is due to take place this week.

The Metropolitan Police and the Health and Safety Executive have launched a full investigation and an inquest is due to take place. No date has yet been set.

A spokesman from Sutton CID said: "It's one of the worst incidents I've seen in a long time, the photographs are horrific and what makes it even worse is that he was so young."

The tragedy happened about ten yards from a primary school playground on Monday, March 17. But a spokesman said pupils had not witnessed the horrific events.

Detective Sergeant John McQuade, from Sutton CID, said 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.

Teesland iDG is regenerating disused land on the estate into 20 high-tech industrial units.

The owner of Kimpton Park Industrial Estate has extended its deepest sympathies to the family and colleagues of Mr Ferrie and is liaising with the site contractor, Marbank Construction.

A spokesman said: "We 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 any companies under investigation.