Carpenter killed in Putney scaffolding fall was 'great dad and husband'

- Father of three Justinas Kopickas died on Monday- Two other workers injured as he fell- Best friend says he was a man who 'would help anyone out'
John Dunne @jhdunne31 October 2012

The family and friends of a carpenter who plunged to his death after scaffolding apparently collapsed on building site today paid tribute to a “great dad and husband.”

Father of three Justinas Kopickas died on Monday in an accident in which two other workers were injured.

Mr Kopickas, 42, is believed to have been leaning against a metal barrier on the sixth floor of the development in Putney when he fell and careered into two builders on the way down.

Friend Andrius Raskevicius described the carpenter, originally from Lithuania, as “a great man who would help anyone out.”

He said: “He was a lovely man and very committed to his family. That was very important to him. He was a great dad and husband.

“He was a good friend as well and would help anybody out. He was known in the community as a generous friend to everyone.”

He said that Mr Kopickas’s wife Sandra and their three children were being comforted by family and friends.

Family members have flown in from Lithuania.

Mr Kopickas had been in the Britain for more than a decade working in construction.

He was well liked on-site and his colleagues were said to be in shock over his death.

The site, which is a flats development, is expected to be closed for much of the week.

Floral tributes have been left in memory of the carpenter.

The investigation is being carried out by the Metropolitan Police in tandem with the Health and Safety Executive.

A Met spokesman said: “Inquiries continue into the circumstances of the incident.

“At this early stage it is believed to have occurred after a man fell from a platform at the site.”

One of the injured colleagues was today in a stable condition while the second has been discharged.

Both are believed to be British workers in their 30s.

The incident happened at the Langham Square development in Upper Richmond Road. All three were employed by a sub contractor.

Mr Kopickas was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gift shop owner Van Vara, 47, who works across the road from the construction site, also left flowers.

Mr Vara said: “I feel so, so sad for the family of the man - I hope that his soul is at peace.

“It is a very sad day for the area. I have actually bought a flat in the block where the accident happened so I have a particular connection. That flat is tinged with sadness.”

In a card laid alongside the flowers, Mr Vara wrote: “Dear friend, rest in peace and may God bless your soul.”

Madi Frediani, 25, a receptionist at Hair Republic hairdressers, which is directly opposite the block, said: “I was told that somebody lent on the barrier around the edge of the scaffolding and then the scaffol

A spokesman for St James, the site’s developers, said the company have launched an investigation.

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