Man dead, woman injured after brick pillar falls on hammock

A man is dead and a woman is badly injured after they were crushed by a brick pillar as they sat in a hammock in Perth overnight.

The 22-year-old man and the woman were rushed to Royal Perth Hospital after the freak accident in Subiaco just before 1am, but the man could not be saved. 

The hammock was tied between a palm tree and the pillar, which was holding up a pergola before it collapsed.

Neighbour Ben Reynolds told 9News there had been a party at the house that night and he heard a "loud bang", but there was silence when he got up to investigate.

"I knew they were having a Christmas party or whatever from 8 o'clock onwards, and then from midnight I heard a loud noise and the music was turned off," Mr Reynolds said.

9News understands three young women have rented the home for the past two years.

Mr Reynolds said repair work was done to the property's pergola only six months ago.

Tributes to the man killed have been posted online, with one saying the 22-year-old "will be missed, RIP big fella".

WA Police are investigating the incident.