Originally from India, Ekarmanjeet Singh, 25, had been working as a roofer in the UK for three years before his death. He had ambitions to start his own construction company
By Marco Marcelline
A construction worker who was killed by a roof collapse in Leytonstone has been named.
Ekarmanjeet Singh, from the city of Gurdaspur in the Punjab, India was working as a roofer on a house renovation on Pevensey Road, Leytonstone when he died. He was 25-years-old.
He was found trapped under rubble by firefighters attending the Pevensey Road end-of-terraced house shortly after 5pm on 12th December. He was pulled out and received emergency treatment from firefighters but was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident also left a second man in hospital with minor injuries.
Speaking to the Echo, Ekarmanjeet’s family described him as a “very honest, very humble and fun-loving person” who “loved children and animals and always made others happy”.
A “true gem of the family”, Ekarmanjeet was the youngest of his two siblings. He is survived by his mother, father, older brother and sister and grandmother. His brother-in-law Sushant Attri said: “He was a good human being. He would never fight with anyone. He never mistreated anyone and he always paid respect to everyone he worked with. It is the biggest loss of our family.”
Ekarmanjeet moved to the UK on 15th September 2020 and was living in Hayes, Middlesex. He had been working as a roofer since his arrival and had ambitions to start his own construction company.
Ekarmanjeet’s family said he had been working on a contract job for SRA & Padda Roofing Ltd. No-one from the construction company had personally contacted the family since his death, the man’s brother-in-law said.
The roofing contractor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Waltham Forest Trades Council (WFTC) held a vigil for Ekarmanjeet on Pevensey Road today (21st December).
Kevin Parslow, secretary of WFTC said: “Sadly the tragedy of someone being killed at work returns to Waltham Forest. The victim’s death comes just after our health and safety police, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), reported a massive rise in construction worker deaths up to 45 in 2022/23 from 29 in 2012/22.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased. No one should go to work and never return and no family should ever have to experience this.”
A HSE notice directing people to leave the property undisturbed has been plastered on the front door of the building Ekarmanjeet died in. The owner and landlord of the property is recorded as residing in Plaistow, Newham.
The HSE, which is tasked with investigating workplace accidents, confirmed that it is investigating the circumstances of Ekarmanjeet’s death with the police.
His body is currently being held at Walthamstow Mortuary. An inquest into his death is to be opened by the Walthamstow Coroner Court at a later date.
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