South African man dies in labour accident in south Cyprus

A 38-year-old South African man lost his life in a labour accident on a Bahamas-flagged ship docked at Limassol port, south Cyprus on Sunday.

The man apparently got seriously burnt while carrying out maintenance works on a ship.

Police spokesman said the 38-year-old man was working on a Bahamas-flagged ship at a height of eight metres using flammable material.

Under circumstances still under investigation, he said, a fire started and the flammable caught light burning both the man and the rope that was supporting him, causing him to fall onto the deck.

Along with the doctor of the ship, he was taken to the Limassol port and from there by ambulance to Limassol hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.

Other workers near him were reportedly using welding materials.

Investigations are ongoing to clarify how the accident occured.