Man dies after horror 20m fall from Lake Proserpine wind mast

Fellow workmates witnessed the horror 20 metre fall after wind monitoring equipment suddenly collapsed while it was being constructed at the site of a proposed wind farm. DETAILS

A police car parked on Station Rd, responding to reports of a man falling 20 metres from a collapsing wind tower near Lake Proserpine. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

New details can be revealed after a contractor fell to his death while working at the top of a wind measuring mast that suddenly collapsed as it was being constructed.

Fellow workmates, who were also at the Whitsunday-based site, witnessed the horror event and were the ones to begin CPR attempts until paramedics arrived.

Sadly the man, who was a 34 year old from Bamboo Creek in the Cassowary Coast region, died at the scene.

The tragedy, which has sparked a Workplace Health and Safety investigation, occurred about 12.40pm on April 25 when the man, and others, had been working on a property earmarked as the site of a proposed wind farm near Lake Proserpine.

The 34 year old had been working at the top of meteorological mast (met mast), which was in the process of being constructed when it fell.

The picture shows a met mast, or wind measuring tower, at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, a German science center. This tower is 200m tall. Picture: church_of_emacs/Wikipedia

A met mast is used measure wind speed and was being erected as part of the early stages of the wind farm project.

As a result of the tragedy the project has been suspended.

Firefighters leave the scene of a fatal incident near Lake Proserpine, where a man fell 20m before succumbing to his injuries. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

Queensland Ambulance Service was called to the property on Station Rd and an RACQ helicopter was also tasked shortly after.

A QAS spokeswoman confirmed the man had fallen 20 metres, sustained critical injuries and was being treated on the scene.

Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has confirmed it was investigating an incident “involving the construction of a wind monitoring tower that occurred (on April 25)”.

“WHSQ inspectors have attended the incident scene and their inquiries into the matter are continuing,” A WHSQ spokeswoman said.

Proserpine wind farm was proposed by Renewable Energy Partners. Picture: Renewable Energy Partners

“As this is an active investigation, WHSQ is not able to provide further information at this time.”

A Proserpine Wind Farm spokesman said the safety and wellbeing of employee, contractors and the broader community was the project’s primary concern.

“All operations will be suspended until we can ensure ongoing safety on site,” he said.

This comes after the spokesman on Thursday night said the company was “shocked and saddened to learn of the death of a contractor at the project site in Proserpine”.

“Staff are currently travelling to the site to continue to work with authorities and support family and colleagues. Our thoughts and condolences are with the contractor’s family at this very difficult time,” he said.

Whitsunday MP Amanda Camm also extended condolences to the man’s family and friends.

“I have had contact by the Proserpine Wind Farm who have offered a full briefing obviously pending an investigation that will be under way,” Ms Camm said.

“At the end of the day we want people to go to work and come home from work safe and to make sure that that employer has upheld their responsibilities in keeping that worker safe.”

The incident happened at a difficult to reach remote location, off a dirt road in an area without phone reception.

The area had been earmarked as a site for a 900MW wind farm that would include 183 wind turbines and cater electricity to approximately 375,000 households when fully operational.

Police are repairing a report for the coroner

Originally published as Man dies after horror 20m fall from Lake Proserpine wind mast