A security guard in an East London factory died while joyriding in a forklift.

News 24.com, South Africa's online news service, reported police said the 31-year-old man was crushed to death after the forklift fell on top of him.

According to police, he had been driving the vehicle around Mondi packaging factory in East London, where he worked as a security guard.

Inspector Stephen Marais said: "Apparently he was driving down a steep ramp when he lost control of the forklift."

He said the man fell out of the vehicle, which rolled down the ramp and fell on top of the guard, killing him instantly.