Queensland man dies after falling into a woodchipper

A POLICE officer investigating the “horrific” death of a man who fell into a woodchipper has said it’s the worst he’s seen in 16 years on the job.

A POLICE officer investigating how exactly a man died after falling into a woodchipper on a property in Gympie, north of Brisbane on Sunday night, has said it’s the worst thing he’s ever seen.

Acting Inspector Paul Algie told The Gympie Timesthe scene was one of the most harrowing he’d come across in his 16 years on the job.

“I went out there this morning to speak to officers from Brisbane and I’d have to say it’s one of the worst incident scenes I’ve ever seen,” he told the publication today.

“There was nothing that could be done to save this gentleman.”

Friends have begun to pay tribute to the man on Facebook with one describing him as a “decent fella with a heart of gold”.

The man was working with two friends on the property as a favour to the woman who lived there when he became entangled in branches, tragically getting dragged into the woodchipper.

The two friends realised he had become entangled and tried desperately to save him.

“It was actually quite horrific. His friends discovered him as he became entangled and attempted to extract him from the shredder and were unable to do so. So they’re obviously quite traumatised now,” Insp Algie said.

Maryborough Forensics Inspector Steve Webb told Channel Nine: “They are all friends and they were doing a favour for the lady that owns the property sadly.”

In a press conference on Monday, Insp Algie said the way the man died was “absolutely shocking”.

“It’s a horrendous thing to have to attend as a police officer — any sudden death — but these circumstances were absolutely shocking,” he told the ABC .

“Everyone’s obviously very distressed and we’re still trying to work out the circumstances as to who has seen what.”

A man has died after falling into a woodchipper. Picture: Zoe McLaughlin

The 54-year-old man was clearing the driveway of a rural property at Goomborian, Gympie with two friends on Sunday night when the incident occurred.

None of the men were contractors and were there to help the person who owns the property.

Insp Algie said the two men who were with the man when the incident occurred were “extremely distressed”.

“They’re understandably extremely distressed over what’s occurred,” he said.

“They’re very traumatised as a result of what’s happened and police are assisting them obviously in any way we can in terms of ongoing welfare needs.”

First responders and anyone investigating the incident have also been offered support services.

According to police, the man died instantly and his death is being treated as an accident. They don’t believe there are any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Insp Algie could not yet say if the man had been using the woodchipper unsafely or incorrectly.

Officers from the Sunshine Coast’s Workplace Health and Safety team are currently investigating and police are preparing a report for the coroner.

Forensic crash officers and the diaster victim identification unit from Brisbane are also “still trying to ascertain” how it happened.

Police have also impounded the machine and will conduct a full industrial investigation.

Originally published as Queensland man dies after falling into a woodchipper