Curragh mine deaths: Donald Rabbitt and Clark Peadon killed at same CQ mine

The distraught father of an experienced tyre fitter crushed to death in a horror incident at a Blackwater mine is ‘very upset’ after learning of a second death at the same mine.

The distraught father of an experienced tyre fitter crushed to death at a Blackwater mine says he believes safety in the resources industry is “a perception not a reality” after learning of a second death at the same mine.

Donald Rabbitt, affectionately known as “Donnie” was killed on January 12, 2020 at Curragh mine when, while changing a 4.5 tonne tyre alone, it fell from about waist height crushing him.

The 33 year old, who worked for Theiss, was found about 4.30pm.

Less than two years later Clark Peadon, 54, was fatally crushed by a dragline at 12.43am at the same mine on November 21, 2021.

“It was very very upsetting for my family and I to hear about that second death,” Donald’s father, Robin Rabbitt said.

Goondiwindi man Donald Rabbitt was killed at Blackwater's Curragh mine on January 12, 2020.

“We believe that a lot of the safety in the mining industry is a perception, it’s not a reality.

“You’ve only got to look at Donald’s case. He was working on his own … changing five-tonne tyres.”

Curragh mine operator Coronado Curragh Pty Ltd, international mining services company Theiss and the site senior executive at the time are charged with failing to discharge health and safety obligations over Donald’s death.

It is alleged the offence date is between December 23, 2019 and January 13, 2020.

The case was listed for first mention in July 2021 but adjourned to October when it was administratively adjourned until January 2022.

Mr Rabbitt said by that date it would have been two years since his son’s death.

Curragh mine worker Clark Peadon died on November 21 when he was crushed by a dragline. Picture: Contributed.

“I have a lot of meltdowns … because it just seems to drag on and on and on,” he said.

Every day he visits Donnie’s grave at the cemetery in Goondiwindi and wipes down his headstone.

“I take a thermos and have a cup of tea with him,” he said.

Ideally, he said, he would like his son’s death to go to an inquest.

“I’ve got these questions that I’d like answered but no one’s ever answered them in two years,” Mr Rabbitt said.

“I‘d like to know why my son was working on his own, I’d like to know how often he worked on his own, I’d like to know whether he’d been trained in that particular machine because it was different to the dump trucks.

“There’s lots of things that are very frustrating and it just drives you crazy to tell the truth.”

Mr Rabbitt said he planned to be in court for the mention of his son’s case.

Originally published as Curragh mine deaths: Donald Rabbitt and Clark Peadon killed at same CQ mine