The man who lost his life in an industrial accident at the Pink Beach property has been named as Gabriel De Oliveira.

Mr De Oliveira, 62, of Crown Lane, Warwick, was operating heavy equipment at the hotel construction site when the machine slid over an embankment shortly after 2pm yesterday.

He was trapped inside the machine and his death was certified at 3.30pm by an on-call doctor.

The matter remains under investigation, with messages of sympathy and condolences extended to his family by Premier Michael Dunkley, along with the owners of the property and the Bermuda Police Service.

Acting Lieutenant Jamal Albuoy of the Bermuda Fire Service said another excavator at the site had been used to free Mr De Oliveira from the wreckage. No further details were given, and the site remained closed off as of this morning.

Mr Dunkley subsequently issued a statement, calling the accident a “sad and terrible tragedy”.

The Premier added: “I wish to extend my sincerest and heartfelt condolences to the gentleman’s family, his friends and his co-workers, and let them know that they are in our thoughts at this very difficult time.”

Sardis Development, the owner of Pink Beach, also passed on its condolences.

“The owners of Pink Beach are extremely saddened to learn of the tragic death of one of the workers on our redevelopment site,” the developer said in a statement. “We continue to work with the authorities and our contractor to determine the cause of this accident.

“We send out heartfelt condolences to the family friends and co-workers of the deceased.”

There was a minor accident reported at the construction site earlier in the summer, when a workman fell two storeys on May 19. The development broke ground a year ago.