A MAN in his thirties has died in a ‘serious industrial accident’ in Lyme Regis.

Concrete blocks landed on the man as he was working on a building site in Somers Road, off the A3052, on Tuesday afternoon.

The air ambulance was called but the man, who suffered head injuries, was declared dead at the scene.

Dorset Police, South Western Ambulance Service and two crews from Dorset Fire and Rescue Service attended the incident.

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service said: “We were called at around 2pm to reports that a wall had collapsed on a male patient aged 31.

“Big concrete blocks had landed on the patient and he suffered head injuries.”

The spokesman added that four ambulance vehicles attended the scene, including one first responder vehicle, an ambulance and two hazardous-area response vehicles.

“The hazardous area response team were there to assist fire officers as it was believed the patient was trapped,” the spokesman added.

“The air ambulance was on its way with a doctor on board as well, but when first responders were at the scene the patient was found to be beyond any help from us.”

The 31-year-old man, who has not been named, was working on a development of five residential properties.

Dorset Police confirmed they attended a ‘serious industrial accident’ and were called to the scene at 2.15pm.

A spokesman for Dorset Fire and Rescue said: “I can confirm that crews from Dorset Fire and Rescue Service attended the incident at Somers Road, Lyme Regis “Crews from Lyme Regis and Charmouth were called to the incident at 2.05pm.

“They provided assistance to the ambulance service and police.”

A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive said it is aware of the incident and is currently working with police.

Speaking at the scene, PC Richard Winward said: “The incident happened off Somers Road down an access road at one of the sites which is part of the Chatterton Heights development.

“Health and Safety are down there at the moment, and that’s standard practice.”

A spokesman from Capstone Building, which was operating on the development, said: “We are devastated about what has happened and we will be releasing a press release in due course.”

An eye witness, who did not wish to be named, said: “It was very quiet, so something had obviously happened which was very serious.

“The workmen were sitting in their vans in the road, so they must have shut the site down.”

Community figures sent their condolences to the man’s family.

Insp Mike Darby said: “It is a most distressing, sad and tragic incident. Our thoughts are with the family and colleagues of the man involved.

“Dorset Police will be assisting the Health and Safety Executive examining the circumstances of the incident.”

Lyme Regis’ outgoing Mayor Cllr Sally Holman said: “It is most distressing to hear about this accident but I don’t know any details.

“Of course all our thoughts are with the young worker.”

Owen Lovell, new mayor of Lyme Regis said: “It’s very, very sad when a hard working man suffers such a tragedy at work.

“I would like to extend my condolences from the whole of Lyme Regis towards his family, and that our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.”