A Hong Kong worker has died after being hit by a crane cage believed to have been caused by a machine breakdown at a residential project site.

Police said on Saturday that the 41-year-old man lost consciousness after being crushed by a cage lift while trying to move items on the Pavilia III Farm site at 1.30pm.

Part of the body was crushed by the iron frame of the cage when it fell on top of him, knocking him unconscious.

Police said preliminary investigations showed the crane’s cage suddenly failed before falling, pinning the man to the ground while he was carrying materials.

Rescue workers rushed the worker to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin for emergency treatment, but he was pronounced dead at 2.25pm.

The police investigating the cause of the incident qualified the case as an “industrial accident”.

The man was reportedly married and had children, aged 6 and 13, in mainland China.