A 50-year-old man from Zebbug is in critical condition after he was hit by a piece of machinery at the Deep Water Quay in Valletta.

The police said it received a call for assistance at around 5pm this evening.

The man was among a number of workers who were unloading cargo from a ship berthed at the quay. He was hit by a piece of machinery and fell to the ground. The man was ferried to Mater Dei Hospital by ambulance and was later certified to be in critical condition.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja ordered an onsite inquiry. The police are investigating.