Kamndiin Turner killed in Gold Coast crane crash, driver Lyall Tadman faces Beenleigh Court

The tragic seconds leading to a fatal crane crash that killed a worker on the Gold Coast has been revealed in court as the Ipswich man’s colleague was sentenced. CONFRONTING

The final moments before a fatal crane incident on a Gold Coast worksite has been played before a court, with the eerie moments having been caught on video.

Ipswich man Kamndiin Turner was killed in the tragic crash while working for Narallen Pools in Stapylton on the Gold Coast in 2021.

The 42-year-old worker was spotting for crane operator Lyall Francis Tadman on August 19 when he died.

Beenleigh Magistrates Court heard on January 30 that Mr Turner was standing between the crane and a 650kg load on the ground.

As he guided Tadman, there was a blind spot on the crane and he crashed into the victim, not seeing him at all and continuing to drive over him.

He then accidentally reversed over Mr Turner as well.

An ambulance was called to the Gold Coast worksite and paramedics performed CPR on Mr Turner but he was declared dead at the scene after 20 minutes.

Lyall Tadman, 65, leaving Beenleigh Magistrates Court

Tadman pleaded guilty in court to one count of failure to comply with a health and safety duty category two, risking serious injury or death.

Narallen Pools was charged with industrial manslaughter and entered a plea of guilty in December, last year.

The matter was committed to the district court and if convicted, the maximum penalty is a $1 million fine.

Health and Safety prosecutor Gretchen McKinley said Tadman failed to address the safety concerns of the crane.

Paramedics at the Gold Coast workplace where a man was killed after he was crushed by a crane.

“The victim Mr Turner was exposed to completely unnecessary risk and the consequences were fatal and catastrophic,” she said.

“Mr Tadman was an experienced crane operator but previously had a safety concern, where he reversed into a parked car on a worksite.”

The court heard Tadman had no previous breaches with Work Health and Safety or a criminal history.

He was a father and now worked part time in a new construction role.

Kamndiin Turner. Picture: GoFundMe

Magistrate Shane Elliott noted Tadman’s lack of criminal history and otherwise safe working career.

“It is unfortunate the company you work for has no safe practise but everybody has a responsibility as a worker,” he said.

“I note you have no previous matters before work health and safety but you hit the car previously which shows you knew something was wrong and needed fixing.”

“You’re clearly remorseful but not defined by this one incident. The Risk was pretty obvious and you could have minimised the risk easily.”

He was fined $25,000 and ordered to pay court costs of $1601.40.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Kamndiin Turner killed in Gold Coast crane crash, driver Lyall Tadman faces Beenleigh Court