A 40-year-old man lost his life early Tuesday morning after becoming trapped in the machinery of a refuse truck in Triq il-Kaccatur, Qormi, the polcie said.

The incident occurred at approximately 6am while the victim, a local resident and the owner of the vehicle, was working at the rear of the truck.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, the police said. He has been named as Jurgen Cassar.

Grief-stricken family members arrived shortly after the accident took place.

Two separate investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of the fatality.

Magistrate Monica Borg Galea is leading a magisterial inquiry, while the Occupational Health and Safety Authority is conducting its own probe into the circumstances of the accident.