A man is dead after the heavy machinery he was operating veered off the Denarau Road in Nadi on Tuesday.

According to Police the initial information gathered was that the victim who was originally from Martintar, Nadi had jumped off the moving forklift when he experienced difficulties in controlling it.

Police say, according to witnesses, the victim who is in his 20s had jumped into a nearby drain, and the forklift veered off the road and tumbled into the drain where the victim was.

“He was rushed to the Nadi Hospital by National Fire Authority officers but was pronounced dead on arrival.”