A man has died after he fell down a lift shaft on Saturday, the police said.

The accident took placed in Stella Maris Street, Sliema, at around noon.

The police said the 64-year-old man from Santa Lucija fell four storeys while working on site for relatives.

He was certified dead on site.

The man was later named as Robert Schembri, an engineer by profession, who was involved in various government projects in the past years.

Minister Ian Borg, who for a time served as Infrastucture Minister, said Schembri was the "engine" behind several projects.

In a separate post, Justice Minister Jonathan Attard said that Schembri was a board member of the Building and Construction Authority.

The BCA also expressed its sorrow for Schembri's death.

Magistrate Joe Mifsud is leading an inquiry.

The police and the Occupational Health and Safety Authority are investigating.