Young worker crushed to death while handling marble slabs

A young man was crushed to death when about 16 large slabs of marble fell on him as he tried to unload them from a truck, yesterday morning.

Matthew Coleiro, 21, of Siġġiewi, died when he was caught between the marble slabs and the truck's metal frame.

The incident occurred at about 10 a.m. in Triq is-Sriedaq, at the Mosta industrial estate.

The slabs were about to be unloaded from the vehicle using the truck's hydraulic crane and deposited at Attard and Buhagiar marble and granite workshop.

The truck was parked in front of the workshop and the crane was set to lift the slabs. At one point, Mr Coleiro climbed onto the truck in order to prepare the marble slabs for lifting, police sources said. The slabs fell on Mr Coleiro, crushing him against the truck. He died on the spot.

Mr Coleiro used to play for Qrendi FC and was a fan of Lady Gaga, according to his Hi5 profile online.

An ambulance, the police and personnel from the Civil Protection Department were immediately called on site. However, the slabs could not be easily removed and had to be pulled back one by one by two firemen using a crowbar. Once the slabs were removed, they were held in place in the middle of the truck by means of a CPD crane.

Duty Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera appointed experts to help in the inquiry she launched.