A DRIVER was electrocuted after a crane on his lorry struck overhead cables as he made a delivery in a north Essex field.The man, who was aged 50 and from the Clacton area, died yesterday morning in hospital shortly after the accident, which happened in land off Chappel Hill, Chappel.

By Roddy Ashworth

A DRIVER was electrocuted after a crane on his lorry struck overhead cables as he made a delivery in a north Essex field.

The man, who was aged 50 and from the Clacton area, died yesterday morning in hospital shortly after the accident, which happened in land off Chappel Hill, Chappel.

He was an employee of DW Clark and Sons, a transport firm based in the Maldon area, and it was understood he was delivering a shed to the grounds of a residential property when the crane on his DAF CF vehicle touched the 11,000-volt cables.

Roy Clark, a director of the company, confirmed the accident victim was an employee but said he could not comment further until he had spoken fully with the man's family.

A neighbour of the property where the accident happened said yesterday: “A man was killed this morning. Now, apparently, they can't get the hoist from the lorry down.

“Our electricity went off at about 8.20am. They have brought another generator but we are still not connected - it's obviously very hot today, and we have got two freezers full of food.”

A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it had launched an inquiry into the accident after a preliminary investigation by police had revealed no suspicious circumstances.

John Hopkins, a clinical operations manager for the East of England Ambulance service, said: “The 50-year-old lorry driver was in the field using the crane at the back of his vehicle when the arm of the crane struck some power cables, electrocuting him.

“Two people who witnessed the incident immediately called 999 and began CPR.

“When crews arrived they carried out full resuscitation efforts, but he remained in a state of cardiac arrest.

“The air ambulance flew him to Colchester General Hospital, where crews and medics continued to work on the man. Sadly, however, he was declared deceased a short time later.”

A spokeswoman for EDF Energy, which supplies electricity in the area, said: “EDF Energy Networks was deeply concerned to hear about this tragic accident and we would like to express our condolences to the family at this difficult time.

“The power supply was interrupted to 411 customers at 8.21am this morning. The first restoration was made to 69 customers at 10.16am, with the second being made to 286 customers at 10.18.am.”

She said that at 12.15pm yesterday all but seven customers had had their power restored, and that at 5.15pm a generator was being installed to connect them.

“The police and the HSE are carrying out investigations into how this occurred and we are unable to comment further until the outcome of those,” she added.