‘Big Al’ confirmed as casualty of Saraji mine NYE accident

The name of the man who died on New Year's Eve at Saraji mine has been released

Allan Houston is being honoured by friends and family who are devastated by his death. Mr Houston was killed on New Year's Eve in a mining accident at Saraji Mine.

THE identity of the man who died late on New Year's Eve while working at a Bowen Basin mine site has been revealed.

Gracemere man Allan Houston was working onsite at BHP Billiton's (BMA) Saraji Open Cut Coal Mine south-west of Mackay.

Friends and family of Mr Houston - known by some as 'Big Al' - say he is being remembered as a "great man" who was respected and cherished by those who knew him.

Members of the central Queensland community have shared their respects and wished Mr Houston's family well, after they were told about his death on Tuesday afternoon.

Rumours about how Mr Houston died have been circulating as officials remain silent about what led to his tragic death. As investigations continue, police, the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and the CFMEU have closed ranks, keeping the wider community in the dark.

 

Allan Houston has been remembered by friends and family after he tragically passed away on New Year's Eve in a workplace accident at Saraji Mine near Dysart.

But despite the freeze on further information, word has made its way from Saraji and other Queensland mine sites, where workers were briefed about the incident.

Most reports leaked from mine sites suggest Mr Houston died while operating a dozer.

BMA confirmed this late this evening (Wednesday). 

The company said the accident occurred at 10pm when the dozer went over the edge an "elevated position",

Rumours suggest the dozer is thought to have rolled a number of times before coming to rest in a body of water.

Official groups have refused to confirm or deny these reports. Media outlets have reported the site experienced "communication issues" before the incident, but again, there has been no official confirmation of this.

In 2017-2018 there was one mining death in Queensland. Mackay man Daniel Springer, 31, died from a head injury he sustained in a BHP mine. Chief Inspector of Mines Luca Rocchi said of the 2164 "high-profile" incidents last year, many were near misses that could have resulted in injury and death.

A report tabled by the department highlighted a "significant increase" in mine incidents relating to gas management. Fires, explosives, electric shocks and vehicle incidents continue to be areas of focus for the industry, the report states.

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