NEW YORK - A 51-year-old ironworker who had gone to work on his day off to earn extra cash died Saturday when a massive metal plate weighing thousands of pounds fell and crushed him, police said.

Christopher Thomas, of the Bronx, was working at the GMD Shipyard in the Brooklyn Navy Yard just after 10 a.m. when the plate, which was being used to repair a dry-docked barge, came loose and fell. Thomas, who was working beneath the barge, was struck in the head and pinned underneath the heavy plate.

Thomas was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Michael Cranston, the president of the GMD Shipyard, released a statement saying that the company was “saddened” by Thomas' death. He stated that the company is helping investigators to determine the cause of the accident.

Thomas had two children, and lived on Nelson Avenue. He had started working at the shipyard last week, said his wife, Carol.