Police in East London has opened investigations into the death of a Ghanaian worker who was apparently hit by a falling crate at a clothes recycling depot.

Kwame Acheampong was struck on the head by the object while working at Moosh, a textile recycling company based in south-east London.

A witness said Mr Acheampong, whose wife and children are understood to live in Ghana, was hit by a crate at the company’s warehouse on the Europa trading estate in Erith, at 10am on Friday last week.

Medics including London Air Ambulance staff tried to save him but he died at the scene.

Mr Acheampong’s brother-in-law Richard Donkor today described him as a “father figure” who had financed his education.

Mr Donkor, a preacher who lives in Ghana, said: “I have lost a great man in my life. A man who was my brother-in-law but played his role as a father to me when I lost my father in 2001.

“You have done a lot for me but you did not live for me to do my part. Your wife is crying. Your children are sad. I can’t control my tears.”

The death is being treated as unexplained and the Health and Safety Executive is assisting the police in their investigation.

Moosh is a family-run textiles recycling company which has been operating for 25 years, sorting and processing 300 tonnes of textiles a week.

Emily Howell, general manager at Moosh, said the company was unable to comment.

Police said a post-mortem examination had confirmed that Mr Acheampong died from a serious head injury.