Updated at 9pm with statement from contractor
A British man has fallen to his death while working on one of Qatar’s first World Cup stadiums, tournament organizers have confirmed.
He is the second confirmed person to have died on one of the country’s under-construction World Cup stadiums.
In a brief statement posted online, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SCDL) said the 40-year-old died on Thursday at the Khalifa Stadium work site.
Peter Kovessy / Doha News
Khalifa Stadium renovations
According to project contractor Midmac-Six Construct, the accident occurred while the man was on a suspended catwalk platform. In a statement, it said:
“For unknown reasons one of the lever hoists supporting the platform failed, causing the fall of the worker, who was wearing all his safety equipment, including the safety harness.
Sadly, the harness was cut during the fall with a fatal outcome. What caused the cut is subject to further investigation.”
Qatari authorities and his next of kin have been notified, the SCDL said.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the British Embassy in Doha told Doha News that it was in touch with local authorities about the death and that embassy staff were ready to support the man’s family “at this very difficult time.”
Khalifa Stadium is currently being overhauled ahead of the 2022 tournament and one of the first venues expected to be completed.
Second confirmed death
This is only the second confirmed death of an employee working on a 2022 World Cup site.
The first occurred last October, when a 29-year-old Nepali man named Anil Kumar Pasman was killed.
SCDL
Wakrah Stadium works
Pasman died after being struck by a water tanker at the Al Wakrah Stadium building site on Oct. 22.
However, in the early part of 2016, World Cup organizers announced thattwo Indian expats contracted on the 2022 stadiums had died in non-work related incidents.
