Worker dies after falling 53 storeys at Los Angeles building site

The worker fell from the 53rd floor of the Wilshire Grand Centre on to the boot of a passing car

Passerby's look up at the Wilshire Grand Tower on South Figueroa Street where a worker fell to his death on Thursday, 17 March, 2016 (AP)

An electrician has plunged 800ft to his death from a Los Angeles skyscraper that will be the tallest on the West Coast once it is completed.

The worker, on his second day on the project, fell from the 53rd floor of the Wilshire Grand Centre on to the boot of a passing car.

It happened at one of the busiest times of day at one of the busiest intersections in Los Angeles city centre, when the streets were thronged with people.

The woman who was driving the car did not appear to be seriously hurt but was taken to hospital, city fire officials said.

The emergency responder reportedly arrived to find a "very gruesome scene," with the man's body lying on the left hand side of the car.

He told The Guardian: "You can imagine the scene. Like a water balloon.

"Remains everywhere ... it's been a bad day for everybody."

Lisa Gritzner, a spokeswoman for Turner Construction, said the electrician was not supposed to be above the third floor of the project and had removed his hard hat.

She added that he had not been issued a safety harness because his work did not require it, and said all safety protocols were followed by the company.

The 73-storey skyscraper will be about 1,100ft tall when it is completed. A ceremony was held earlier this month when the top beam was hoisted into place on the 73rd floor.

The billion-dollar (£690 million) office and hotel tower being developed by Korean Airlines is expected to open early next year.

Press Association