AN INVESTIGATION is under way after a North-East man fell 40ft to his death.
Workmates watched in horror as the man plunged to the ground after appearing to slip on scaffolding.
Thomas Hounslow, 46, of Seaburn Dene, Sunderland, suffered head and chest injuries and was dead on arrival at the city's Royal Hospital.
He died at 5.45pm on Thursday on a site in Burdon Road, Sunderland, where construction firms are building the Metro extension to the city.
Police launched an inquiry and officers from the Health and Safety Executive were called in to examine the scene of the accident.
A police spokesman said there were no suspicious circumstances and the coroner had been informed.
A spokeswoman for Railtrack, which is supervising the extension, said: "At 5.45pm on Thursday a serious incident occurred at Park Lane station, in Sunderland, where a man died after falling from a scaffolding platform.
"The man was working for one of the contractors who are building the Tyne and Wear Metro extension to Sunderland.
"A full investigation is under way. The Health and Safety Executive attended the site and will be returning to continue their investigations."
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