This is the moment a grieving son was killed by his own mother's coffin after it fell on his head as he carried it during her funeral.

Samen Kondorura was one of the pallbearers who carried his mother's coffin up a makeshift bamboo ladder, when the ladder unexpectedly collapsed, causing the casket to come crashing down to the floor below.

The 40-year-old fell off the ladder and was crushed by the coffin, as it plummeted to the floor at the funeral in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The casket was hoisted onto a lakkian - an ornately carved tower where the deceased in Indonesia are placed before traditional funeral proceedings take place.

Julianto Sirait, chief commissioner of the Tana Toraja resort police said: "As the mother's coffin was being raised to the lakkian, suddenly the ladder shifted and collapsed, the coffin fell and hit the victim."

Graphic video from the scene shows the ladder slip just as the casket enters the tower, sending the men tumbling several metres to the ground where the victim is crushed by the coffin.

Horrified onlookers rush to the men's aid but Kondorura died later in hospital.

Julianto Sirait said the accident happened because the ladder was not properly reinforced but the family has declined to press charges.

The body of Kondorura is now resting alongside his mother Berta.

This is the moment a grieving son was killed by his own mother's coffin after it fell on his head as he carried it during her funeral.

Samen Kondorura was one of the pallbearers who carried his mother's coffin up a makeshift bamboo ladder, when the ladder unexpectedly collapsed, causing the casket to come crashing down to the floor below.

The 40-year-old fell off the ladder and was crushed by the coffin, as it plummeted to the floor at the funeral in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The casket was hoisted onto a lakkian - an ornately carved tower where the deceased in Indonesia are placed before traditional funeral proceedings take place.

Julianto Sirait, chief commissioner of the Tana Toraja resort police said: "As the mother's coffin was being raised to the lakkian, suddenly the ladder shifted and collapsed, the coffin fell and hit the victim."

Graphic video from the scene shows the ladder slip just as the casket enters the tower, sending the men tumbling several metres to the ground where the victim is crushed by the coffin.

Horrified onlookers rush to the men's aid but Kondorura died later in hospital.

Julianto Sirait said the accident happened because the ladder was not properly reinforced but the family has declined to press charges.

The body of Kondorura is now resting alongside his mother Berta.