Briton killed in Madonna stage collapse named

Madonna received news of the accident while sound-checking for a gig in Italy

A British workman killed while setting up the stage for a Madonna concert in France was named today.

Charles Prow, 23, died overnight from injuries he suffered when a section of stage roof collapsed on to a number of workers yesterday.

A French worker was killed immediately in the accident at Marseille's Stade Velodrome, the city's main football ground, which led to the singer's planned concert on Sunday being cancelled.

In a statement on her website, the 50-year-old, now on the Italian leg of her Sticky And Sweet world tour, said she was "devastated" by the news, and offered her sympathy to the victims' families.

City officials said the roof had been approximately two-thirds complete when the accident happened, and police said a faulty power winch may have played a role in its cause.

Madonna received news of the accident while sound-checking for a gig in Udine, north-east Italy, and in a statement on her website said: "I am devastated to have just received this tragic news.

"My prayers go out to those who were injured and their families, along with my deepest sympathy to all those affected by this heart-breaking news."

Local newspaper La Provence said Mr Prow died during the night in the neurosurgery unit of Marseille's La Timone hospital after suffering injuries in a fall of nearly 50ft (15m).

Two other workers, one British and one American, remained in a serious condition, the newspaper reported.

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Around 50 crew are believed to have been working on the set when the accident happened.

It is thought the victims were on the stage while the roof was being raised by four electric winches on metal columns at the corners of the stage.

Early reports suggest that one of these columns, which were held up by cranes, collapsed, causing the roof to fall.

Maurice de Nocera, the Marseille council official in charge of major events, said the collapse took place in two stages, allowing some workers to escape injury.

Police and prosecutors are now investigating the accident.