The body of the 65-year-old man was found in the crane's stairwell at the Athletes Village where he was working.

A statement from the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) confirmed the fatality.

"This incident is still being investigated," they said.

"At this early stage it cannot be confirmed as to whether this incident was due to a medical condition or was accident-related.

"The sympathies of everyone at the ODA and its contractors are with this individual's family and friends at this very difficult time."

An investigation has been launched but one witness claimed he suffered severe head injuries after he slipped while climbing down a ladder as the site was engulfed in torrential rain and lightning.

"He got out of his cab and was going down the crane ladder when he slipped and fell about nine metres (30ft)," a construction worker told the Metro.

"He suffered severe head injuries."

Authorities claimed that it was premature to speculate on the cause of his death.

The London Ambulance Service also issued a statement.

"We were called just after 2.30pm to Leyton Road, E14 to a man on a crane who was in cardiac arrest and had stopped breathing," they said.

"We sent three ambulance crews, a single responder in a car and a medical team from London's Air Ambulance in a car.

"Sadly, despite extensive efforts to resuscitate him, the patient was pronounced dead at the scene by the air ambulance doctor."

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said: "HSE isaware of the incident, and will be sending inspectors to the site to assist the police in the investigation."

Earlier this month the ODA reported that after three million working hours there had been no serious injuries.

The Park is the largest construction site in Europe with over 12,000 workers with a reportable accident rate which is just a third of the industry average for all workplaces.

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June 2011: Three million hours and no serious accident, reports ODA