Boy, eight, crushed to death at Sydney church construction site

An eight-year-old boy playing at a Tongan community church construction site in Sydney's southwest has died after concrete slabs fell on him.

Erwin Makafana was playing on the slabs at the Sydney Tongan Seventh-Day Adventist Church's property in Leppington on Tuesday afternoon when some slipped and crushed him.

He was treated by emergency services at the site before being rushed to Liverpool Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Pastor Sitiveni Fine Teaupa said all work on the church hall construction site had been suspended until a thorough investigation was completed.

"I am devastated by this accident. Our whole community is heartbroken. There is nothing more precious to us than our children," he said in a statement.

"Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers. We are all in deep shock."

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.