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Box Hill crane death: Shaun Burns’ mates pay tribute

FRIENDS of Shaun Burns, the man who died after more than a tonne of wet concrete fell on him, have paid tribute to their dedicated, straight-shooting mate.

Crane drops concrete on workers at Box Hill, killing one and injuring others.

THE friends of the man killed at a Box Hill construction site when more than a tonne of wet concrete fell from a crane have paid tribute to their “dedicated” and “hard-working” mate.

Shaun Burns.
Shaun Burns.

Shaun Burns, believed to be in his 40s, was working in a pit as a general labourer on Thursday when the crane dropped a load of concrete on him and two other workers.

Friend Rod Pratt said he’d known Mr Burns for 15 years through clay target shooting.

“It’s devastating news, it is totally unexpected,” Mr Pratt told the Herald Sun.

“It has come as a real shock to all the people who knew him.

“These sorts of things happen to other people, they don’t happen to people you know.”

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A crane dropped more than a tonne of concrete on him and two other workers. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross
A crane dropped more than a tonne of concrete on him and two other workers. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross
Emergency services stretcher out one of the men injured in the incident. Picture: David Caird
Emergency services stretcher out one of the men injured in the incident. Picture: David Caird

Mr Burns was a committee member of the Kilmore Field and Game Association.

“He was a very dedicated member and a very hard worker,” Mr Pratt said.

“There was no question of his work ethic.”

It is understood Mr Burns lived a quiet life and did not have any children.

Pete Newell said he knew Mr Burns for more than a decade.

“It’s pretty shocking,” Mr Newell said.

“Shaun was a ‘no filter’ kind of a guy.

“He called a spade a spade and held nothing back.”

On Sunday, his club had a minute’s silence and a six-gun salute before their shoot.

The crane at the Box Hill site. Picture: David Caird
The crane at the Box Hill site. Picture: David Caird

Last week, it was revealed Mr Burns’ mother was “extremely traumatised” learning of the way her son died.

The CFMEU claims a mechanical fault caused the tragedy, with the crane owned by the same company involved in the Richmond crane debacle in July — Clark Cranes.

A 28-year-old Caroline Springs man remains in a serious condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital while a 27-year-old Southbank man suffered minor injuries.

brianna.travers@news.com.au

@briannatravers

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/box-hill-crane-death-shaun-burns-mates-pay-tribute/news-story/435b49adede02d1b5ce9e8b90bc6bdb9