Louise Standfield, mum of Lachlan Carslake, pays tribute to son after workplace death in Edwardstown
He loved Green Day, beaten up cars, surprising his partner with flowers and calling his mum. But now the family of Lachlan Carslake is preparing to farewell him.
SA News
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The heartbroken mum of a man tragically killed in a workplace incident says she wishes she could give him one last hug and is “still waiting for him to come through the door”.
Lachlan Carslake, 28, loved fishing, dinosaurs and music, and would call his mum Louise Standfield most afternoons on his way home from work.
He was killed in an incident at his Edwardstown engineering workplace two weeks ago.
Ms Standfield told The Advertiser she was “heartbroken”, and urged parents around Australia to “hug their children”.
“He loved Green Day and beaten up cars, and he would do anything for you. He was so kind,” she said.
“If you were upset he would always come and give you a hug – even on his bad days, he would give you a hug.
“I always got a phone call at 4:55pm when he was driving home. I’m still waiting for him to come through the door, or ring me, or text me to say ‘listen to this mum’ because he was always sending me music.
“Come home, Lachlan. We love you. We’re so proud of you.”
Emergency services were called to Nylastex Engineering Solutions in Edwardstown about 12pm on July 24 following reports Mr Carslake had suffered serious head injuries while operating machinery.
He was rushed to the Flinders Medical Centre and placed on life support surrounded by his family and “love of his life” Tahlia Benvegnu-Carslake until he sadly died on July 27.
The business was recently “shut down” by SafeWork SA after being issued statutory notices.
A SafeWork SA spokesperson said inspectors and investigators visited the business on the day of the incident and had since initiated a full investigation.
“SafeWork SA is investigating a workplace fatality involving a male worker at an engineering business at Edwardstown,” they said.
“A number of statutory notices have been issued to the engineering business in relation to this matter. The notices have effectively shut down the business at this location and expert engineers have been engaged to assess the plant involved in the incident.”
Ms Benvegnu-Carslake – Mr Carslake’s partner of eight years – said on their last night together, he surprised her with flowers when he arrived home from work.
“He brought me flowers, just for no reason,” she said.
“I didn’t really see him the next morning, we just usually say bye and then he leaves.
“He’d always try to embarrass me in public with these goofy dances to try and make me laugh.”
Funeral arrangements for Mr Carslake have been announced for Friday August 16 at the Enfield Memorial Park where guests have been asked to wear a touch of green.
After proceedings, everyone has been invited to Panama Dr in New Port for an afternoon of fishing, accompanied by “barbecue, beers and music”.
A GoFundMe already amassing more than $13,000 to help support Mr Carslake’s family described him as “a fun-loving, kind and caring son, brother, partner and friend to many”.
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