A SAILOR has been crushed to death by a 17-tonne piece of steel on a cargo ship moored off Margate. The Filipino was supervising a crane on board the Bahamian registered CEC Crusader when the tragedy happened.

The load swung out of control, crushing the 42-year-old man against the side of the ship.

Dover coastguard, Margate lifeboat and a rescue helicopter were all scrambled, but the man was pronounced dead by the doctor aboard the lifeboat.