Brazil World Cup: Worker dies after 115 feet stadium fall

Five people have now died in the construction of Brazil’s World Cup stadiums, while a sixth has died from a heart attack on the job

Workers at the Arena Amazonia in Manaus, Brazil, where a man died after plunging 35 metres (115 feet) during construction (EPA)

A fifth person died in the construction on Brazil’s World Cup stadiums after a worker plunged 35 metres (115 feet) from the roof of the Arena Amazonia in the north of the country.

Marcleudo de Melo Ferreira, 22, died in a hospital in the city of Manaus following the fall that occurred when a cable broke.

Local media later reported that a further worker had died of a heart attack at a convention centre being built next to the Arena Amazonia to host meetings during the tournament.

The state's public prosecutor's office has asked a judge to force work on the stadium in Manaus to be suspended until safe working conditions can be guaranteed, though such requests are rarely granted in Brazil.

“FIFA and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) learnt of the death of the worker on Saturday at the Arena Amazonia site with great sadness,” a FIFA statement said.

Andrade Gutierrez, the Brazilian firm building the Amazonia stadium, said in a statement that Mr Ferreira worked for a company that had been contracted to build the arena's cover, adding that work would commence on Sunday.

The death of Jose Antonio da Silva Nascimento, 49, from a heart attack however has led to the local construction union threatening strikes.

The third death from accidents during construction in less than a month has again raised concerns that safety of workers is being ignored as officials rush to finish the arenas.

Two people died on 27 November in Sao Paulo after a crane collapsed in the arena that is to host the opening game on 12 June.

Another worker died in the city while working on the Palmeiras stadium. While the venue will not be used to host World Cup matches, it may serve as an official training base.

The tournament will take place in 12 Brazilian cities and six of the stadiums are due to be delivered between now and April, but many are well behind schedule.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter last week appealed to “God, Allah and whoever” to ensure the stadiums will be ready in time.