Construction worker dies after falling from SoFi Stadium roof in Los Angeles

‘We work extremely hard to prevent days like this and we have halted all construction activity’

Construction at SoFi Stadium continues amidst the Covid-19 pandemic in Inglewood, California (Getty Images)

A construction worker has died after falling from the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles, according to a report by The Los Angeles Times.

The ironworker fell from the roof while working in the southeast corner of the stadium on Friday morning, a person briefed on the incident told the newspaper.

“This is an extremely sad day,” a spokesman for Turner-AECOM, the joint venture overseeing the $5bn project, told The LA Times in a statement confirming the death.

Work has been temporarily stopped on the project after the incident, and workers are said to be receiving counselling.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues at this extremely difficult time. We work extremely hard to prevent days like this and we have halted all construction activity,” Turner-AECOM said.

The victim was reported as a male in his 30s, who was pronounced dead by paramedics at 11.10 am, according to a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County medical examiner-coroner.

The stadium is set to be the future home of the NFL’s Rams and Chargers upon its scheduled opening date on the 14 August when the Rams are set to play the New Orleans Saints.

In a statement on behalf of SoFi Stadium, the Rams and Chargers called the death “heartbreaking”.

“The safety of our construction team and all of our employees is the foremost priority of our organisations, and we will continue to work with our partners and local authorities to deliver on this commitment,” the statement said.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is reported to be still investigating the incident.

There have also reportedly been 12 confirmed cases of coronavirus among the workers on the stadium with seven confirmed in the last eight days.