Man choppered to hospital after Coominya workplace accident

Fresh details have emerged after a horrific meatworks incident west of Ipswich, which saw a young man airlifted to hospital with a partially amputated arm.

A man in his 20s was flown to a Brisbane hospital by a Queensland Government QG Air rescue helicopter following a workplace accident on Thursday. Picture: Brendan Radke

A gruesome meatworks accident which left a young worker with a partially amputated arm yesterday follows a series of injuries at the same workplace — including an incident involving a former rugby league star who is now seeking a hefty payout.

A man in his 20s is currently in stable condition after he suffered partial amputation to one of his arms at Coominya’s Greenmountain Meat Processing yesterday, May 18.

A meatworks employee has since alleged that yesterday’s incident occured when the young man “got pulled into the knock box dropper table” and “severed his arm”.

This is not the first workplace incident which has seen Greenmountain make headlines.

Court records reveal the meatworks is currently at the centre of two civil disputes involving workplace injuries.

This includes ongoing proceedings spearheaded by former employee and rugby star Richie Lowe, who a court heard would be seeking a $750,000 payout over a sliced finger.

The meatworks was also previously ordered to pay nearly one million in damages to a maintenance manager who took a nasty fall - resulting in a brain injury - while he was investigating a steam leak on the premises.

The Supreme Court ordered in October, 2020, that Greenmountain pay the maintenance manager, Scott Gregory Walker, a whopping $967,383.39.

A former employee at Greenmountain Meat Processing told The Queensland Times he was aware of previous worker injuries at the abattoir, but that such accidents were “part of the job” no matter where a person worked.

Workplace Health and Safety have confirmed inspectors are currently investigating the incident.

A spokesperson said they were unable to comment any further at this stage, while investigations are ongoing.

Yesterday, a man was flown to Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra hospital following a workplace incident at a meatworks west of Ipswich.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed they attended a workplace accident at Greenmountain Meat Processing Plant on Coominya Connection Road, Coominya about 12.45pm.

The spokesman said a man in his 20s had suffered “very significant injuries”.

It is understood he suffered a partial amputation to one of his arms.

The man was flown to hospital aboard the Queensland Government Air (QGAir) rescue helicopter and remained in stable condition.

Police were called to the scene about 1.40pm and said Workplace Health and Safety were now leading an investigation.

Greenmountain Meat declined to comment yesterday.