A young worker was crushed to death by falling steel as he worked today, police said.
James West, 22, died shortly before 8am when he was struck at the NEF steel fabrication plant in Darlington.
Mr West, who was single and lived in Main Street, Shildon, County Durham died despite the efforts of paramedics.
A Durham Police spokesman said the steel narrowly missed a second worker at the premises in Cleveland Trading Estate, Cleveland Road.
''At this stage, there is nothing to suggest there are any suspicious circumstances,'' the spokesman added. The Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation.
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