A BUILDER has died after he fell from a ladder on a building site in Hove today, police have said.

The man was working at the rear of Lansdowne Place Hotel at about 11am when he fell and suffered serious injuries.

One woman, who did not want to be named, said: "It's heartbreaking."

She added: "It makes me feel sick."

Another nearby resident said it was "tragic" knowing a worker had died.

The man, who asked not to be named, said: “I didn’t see or hear what happened because I just got back home at 3.30pm.

“It’s very sad to know a worker has died and my thoughts are with his family.

“The construction has been ongoing for a while and it’s kept me up sometimes.

“Hopefully police can find out what has happened to the man. It sounded like a really bad accident.”

An ambulance service spokesman said paramedics were called at 11.20am to reports that a man had fallen from height.

They sent two ambulances and two ambulance cars to the scene.

The man was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton with serious injuries.

He was described as being in a "life-threatening" condition while on the way to hospital.

A senior police officer at the scene confirmed to the Argus that the man had died.

A Police spokesman said: "We were called at 11.25am on Friday to Brunswick Street West to a report a man had fallen from a ladder.

"The man was taken to hospital and sadly died from his injuries. His next of kin has been informed.

"Health and Safety Executive have been informed and are working alongside officers at the scene."

James Meanwell, Detective Constable at Sussex Police, said: “Sussex Police are working and the Health Safety Executive are investigating into the death of a gentleman who was working at on the site.

“He has not been named.

“The incident has been ongoing since 11am. We are still investigating into the causes of his death.

“It is a very sad incident.”