HEALTH and safety officers have launched an investigation after a worker was crushed to death by a fork-lift truck at a factory in Widnes.

A rapid response team including paramedics, police and firefighters were called to Merseyside Coatings on Pickerings Road, in the early hours of last Friday, after receiving reports that a man was trapped underneath a fork-lift stacker truck.

Police have identified him as Daniel Mahon, 44, from Anfield, Liverpool.

Paramedics fought to save the critically injured worker, while fire crews used inflatable equipment in a bid to free him, but he had suffered severe head injuries and died on arrival at Whiston Hospital.

Two fire engines were sent to the Halebank Industrial Estate factory and Cheshire police forensic experts cordoned off the area.

Police investigators were carrying out a fingertip search at the scene of the incident trying to find out what caused the death.

A police spokeswoman said: 'We were called at 12.28am on Friday, July 28, to Merseyside Coatings in Hale-bank. Police are currently liaising with the Health and Safety Executive and are preparing a file for the coroner.'

A spokesman for Merseyside Coatings Ltd. said: 'We are all devastated about what happened and a full investigation is underway.

'All we can say for now is that a fork-lift truck appears to have over-turned, causing the accident. We are investigating how this happened.'