A post-mortem on the Olympic site crane operator found dead yesterday afternoon is expected to show his death was due to a probable heart attack and not from a fall.

The medical examination was taking place this morning at the East Ham Mortuary when the results will be conveyed to the Waltham Forest coroner.

The 65-year-old worker at the Athletes Village being built on the fringe of the Games site at Stratford was found at 2.55pm slumped in the stairwell of his 100m high crane.

An investigation was launched by police and Health & Safety teams.

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 some 30ft 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.”