A Catholic priest in Ecuador was killed after a heavy crucifix fell onto his head during a Mass being livestreamed, prompting an emergency response and plans for a memorial Eucharist.

Church officials confirmed that Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari died on Saturday at the Church of Perpetual Relief in Guayaquil, a coastal city roughly 265km southwest of the capital, Quito. He served as the church’s parish priest.

Disturbing footage of the service, which spread across social media before being removed, showed a large crucifix mounted on the wall behind the altar suddenly coming loose and striking the back of Sánchez’s head.

The priest had been facing the congregation and did not notice the crucifix falling behind him.

Parishioners could be heard screaming and crying as several rushed to help him, while the livestream continued to broadcast the scene.

“Father, Father! Call an ambulance!” people shouted moments before the transmission abruptly ended.

NBC News later reported that the livestream video had been taken down.

Emergency services were called immediately, but first responders were unable to revive the priest.

In a statement, the Archdiocese of Guayaquil said Sánchez “has left to the House of the Father to enjoy his presence and glory”.

Sánchez was a member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, a Roman Catholic religious order established in 1732 that has a presence in 80 countries, according to the Associated Press.

The archdiocese announced that a Eucharist in his memory was scheduled for Sunday evening.

Local authorities had not yet commented on the incident, and the reason the crucifix detached from the wall remained unclear.

Other fatal incidents involving religious monuments have occurred in the past. In 2014, a 21-year-old man died and his friend was injured when a crucifix erected in honour of Pope John Paul II collapsed on them in northern Italy.

That same year, a mother of two was killed in Chicago, US, when a stone gargoyle fell three storeys from an old church and struck her as she walked with her fiancé.

Source: Various