It is not know whether the victim – who suffered a heart attack – died due to an accident or a medical condition. He is believed to be in his sixties.
The body of the man was found at 2.55pm slumped in the crane’s stairwell at the Athletes Village where he was working.
A statement from the Olympic Delivery Authority confirming the fatality said: “This incident is still being investigated.
“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.”
One site source told the Metro: “He got out of his cab and was going down the crane ladder when he slipped and fell about nine metres.”