UPDATE: Death of 2012 site worker was due to heart attack

Crane operative did not slip to his death, says pathologists

An investigation into the death of a crane operative at the Olympic construction site in Stratford was halted after a post mortem found the worker died of a heart attack and not from a fall, as has been speculated.

The tragic death of William Henderson, 65. was officially registered by the Waltham Forest coroner as natural causes.

Mr Henderson, from Scotland but believed to be living in digs in East London, was found dead at 2.55pm yesterday on the stairwell of his 100m crane at the Athlete’s Village currently being built on the fringe of the Games site.

In an anonymous call to newspapers a fellow worker speculated the tragedy occurred when the operative was descending his crane in wet and stormy weather and slipped to his death.

A statement from the Olympic Delivery Authority last night said. “At this early stage it cannot be confirmed as to whether this incident was due to a medical condition or was accident-related.”

He added: “The sympathies of everyone at the ODA and its contractors are with this individual’s family and friends at this very difficult time.”

The medical examination took place today at the East Ham Mortuary and the results were conveyed to the coroner.

The report, the Recorder has been told, showed only superficial injuries to the body with no bones broken, indicating a fall from height could not have happened.

“The unfortunate man died of natural causes, a heart attack.”