Tributes flow for popular tradie Derick Suratin killed in workplace accident

LOVED ones of Derick Suratin, who was killed while working on the roof of the Tennant Creek Fire Station, have paid tribute to the popular tradie

LOVED ones of Tennant Creek tradie and father Derick Suratin, who was killed in a workplace incident, have shared their grief.

The 34-year-old tradesman was electrocuted at 8am Monday while working on the roof of the Tennant Creek Fire Station.

Derick Suratin died after he was electrocuted while working on the Tennant Creek Fire Station roof. Picture: Facebook

He was an employee of Dexter Barnes Electrical but had previously worked for other electrical companies in Tennant Creek.

His family had been residents of the outback township for many years.

Police said in a statement, “information is that a tradesman was electrocuted while undertaking contracted works on the roof of the building”.

Police, Fire and emergency services went to the station but could not revive Mr Suratin. Attempts to revive him at Tennant Creek Hospital were also unsuccessful.

NT WorkSafe said he had been doing roofing work at the time of the incident.

Police are also investigating for the NT Coroner.

Loved ones of Mr Suratin took to social media to share their grief in his unexpected death.

“Devastating to hear another amazing person has passed! Thinking of my mate and his family! Love you guys and stay strong, absolutely devastating,” Lachlan Dunemann said.

“So sad rest in peace bro,” David Peters said.

Mr Suratin’s death is the second serious worksite incident in the Territory in a week.

Last Wednesday, a 31-year-old electrician sustained serious crush injuries after he was pinned by a 1.5 tonne switchboard.

Another worker was temporarily trapped.

NT WorkSafe is also investigating the incident.

Unions NT general secretary Joel Bowden said Mr Suratin’s death would have a ripple effect on the community of Tennant Creek.

“As one of my colleagues just said before, when the news came through he just felt sick in the guts hearing the news,” Mr Bowden said.

“We need workers to be able to go to work safe, be safe and be able to go home to their families and friends,” he said.

Unions NT was waiting for the NT Government to release an independent review into workplace health and safety.

The review, by independent consultant Tim Lyons, was handed to the Government last December.

“We need to push for industrial manslaughter across Australia and in the Northern Territory.

“In the NT a worker is almost three times more likely to be injured at work.

“That’s three times more likely to be injured in the Northern Territory than any other state and that’s unacceptable.”