Second worker dies after trench collapse at Delacombe
A MAN who was trapped next to his dying workmate after a trench collapsed has died in hospital, less than 24 hours after a delicate rescue by emergency crews.
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UPDATE: A man who was trapped waist-deep in dirt after a trench collapsed in Delacombe yesterday has tragically died in hospital.
The loved ones of Jack Brownlee posted an emotional tribute on Facebook this morning: “On behalf of Dave, Janine, Mitch family and friends we have the unfortunate task of announcing our son, brother and best mate Jackie Boy has passed away, we would like to thank the efforts of the amazing team at the Royal Melbourne Hospital for their care, compassion and efforts over the past 24 hours. We the family know that what could be done was done to get our boy back up and running.
“This is a very trying time for all family and friends and would like all to respect our privacy at the sad time.
“Rest In Peace Jacky Boy Brownlee, king of the jungle, bollard, snake a moit, JUNK YARD DOG, chopper, VB SWALLOWING ANIMAL, you will never ever be forgotten mate.
#everyonesbestmate”
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On Wednesday, Mr Brownlee was trapped next to his dying workmate after a trench collapsed at a construction site near Ballarat.
Colleagues were frantically digging him out with their hands when they tragically discovered the body of the other worker buried nearby.
It took rescuers, including other construction workers, police and firefighters, more than two hours to free him from the six-metre-deep trench.
The other man, in his 30s, could not be saved.
Ballarat Senior Sgt David Hermit said the events had left the families and colleagues traumatised.
“It was quite traumatic for the male that’s been rescued,” Sen-Sgt Hermit said.
“He was conscious throughout and it took us a number of hours to have him removed.
“He was trapped from the waist down.
“Other workers when they arrived, and during the rescue, have discovered the other worker.”
Police, firefighters and Worksafe remain at the Winterfield housing development site as investigations continue into what the men were doing in the hole and why the walls of the trench collapsed.
“There was nobody present at the time of the accident,” Sen-Sgt Hermit said.
“They were discovered by other workers ... we don’t actually know how it’s occurred.”
The trenching works were being performed by contractors from local business Pipecon.
The owner of that business joined in the rescue, using an excavator to help the CFA get to the men.
Sen-Sgt Hermit praised the efforts of those who helped in the delicate rescue operation.
One man is dead and rescue crews are working to free another from a collapsed trench at Ballarat. https://t.co/usiaasQ2w4 #Delacombe #7News pic.twitter.com/0hoMEfHHtP
— 7 News Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) March 21, 2018
“They, first of all, they just used hands, then they used hand tools and then he’s been removed by the CFA and MFB specialists,” he said. “It (the rescue and stabilising the trench) is quite delicate and quite dangerous.”
The man has been sent to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with lower body injuries and is in a serious condition.
A team of Worksafe investigators has arrived on the scene as a probe begins into why the trench collapsed.
The worker who was killed at the scene is yet to be identified.
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