A PROBE is under way after a man died and another man from Lowestoft suffered life-changing injuries in an industrial accident at Ipswich docks.

The men were loading a metal pontoon onto a lorry at Cliff Road Dock Estate when the vehicle toppled over shortly before 6pm on Friday.

One of them, in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene – the premises of Red7Marine Ltd – while the other, in his 40s, was taken to Ipswich Hospital with serious injuries.

The flat-bed lorry, which was fitted with a small crane, was still on its side at about 9pm as forensics officers completed their work.

It was understood the mishap involved the crane as the pontoon was being lifted and caused the lorry to topple onto its side.

Sergeant Gordon Campbell-Barr, of Suffolk Constabulary, speaking at the scene on Friday, confirmed one man had died.

'I think what's happened is the lorry has gone onto its side,' he said.

'One person is in hospital with life-changing, but not life-threatening, injuries.'

Police launched a joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to establish what happened at the site, which is opposite the entrance to The Brewery Tap pub.

A dock worker said he could tell from the faces of colleagues at the security gates that something tragic had happened.

'I drove in and then saw all the fire engines and spoke to the security guys there and you could tell by the look on their faces that it didn't look good,' added the worker, who asked not to be identified.

A HSE spokesman said: 'We are aware of the incident and we are working with police.'

The man from Lowestoft is in a serious but stable condition in hospital. His injuries are not life-threatening.

The tragedy comes in the week it was revealed that the East had the highest number of construction deaths in the country last year.

Ten construction workers – including two at Worlingworth and four at Great Yarmouth – lost their lives in eastern England last year, a 233pc hike on figures for 2009/10.