A 59-year-old male worker from the mainland wearing a safety harness fell to his death in an accident at a hotel on Rua do Tiro in Cotai yesterday, according to statements by the Fire Services Bureau (CB), Public Security Police (PSP) and Judiciary Police (PJ).
The accident happened at about 9:10 a.m. yesterday, the statements noted, when the non-resident worker (NRW) “fell from a height” during a renovation project on the first floor of a hotel in Cotai, after which he was rushed to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre by ambulance.
The Judiciary Police were notified by the Fire Services Bureau about the incident at 10:05 a.m. and were subsequently informed by the hospital that the victim, with a head laceration and massive bleeding, had been pronounced dead.
According to the CB statement, the firefighters at the scene had failed to detect the victim’s heartbeat and any signs of breathing upon their arrival.
The PJ statement noted that in a preliminary examination of the body, no visible criminally induced injuries were found on the body, but the exact cause of death had yet to be determined by forensic examination.
The case has been referred to the PJ investigation section for follow-up as a dead-body-found.
The Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) expressed in a statement yesterday its “great concern and sadness” over the death of the victim who died in an accidental fall from a height, while also extending its “deepest condolences” to his bereaved family, underlining that if the incident was confirmed to be a work accident, assistance would be provided to his family members to follow up on their possible claim for compensation.
The statement noted that according to preliminary information available, when the worker was in hotel’s plant room he had entered its fenced-off area and then plunged to his death from a height. However, the statement underlined that the cause of the accident had yet to be further investigated, adding that if any irregularities were found, those responsible would face punishment in accordance with the law.
