Australia’s mining community has been left devastated after a young worker died in a tragic vehicle incident at a coal mine in Central Queensland.
Emergency services were called to BHP Mitsubishi Alliance’s Saraji South coal mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin on Monday afternoon following reports that a man had been pinned between two mining vehicles.
The 27-year-old man died from significant crush injuries after being taken to Dysart hospital by paramedics.
Mining and Energy Union district president Mitch Hughes said the entire mining community was “shocked and saddened” by the incident.
“This is the worst news we can ever receive,” he said.
“We are devastated that a coal miner is not returning home at the end of their shift. Our hearts go out to friends and family.”
The incident occurred at BMA’s open pit coal mine near Dysart in Queensland’s Bowen Basin.
Operations were suspended at the site following the man’s death.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the state’s resources regulator confirmed it had launched a full-scale investigation into the event.
Resources Safety and Health Queensland CEO Rob Djukic said multiple inspectors were “working closely” with BMA to find out what occurred.
“As soon as we were notified of the incident, we launched an investigation sending multiple investigators and inspectors from our Serious Incident Investigation Unit and Coal Inspectorate to the site,” Mr Djukic said.
“We’d like to offer our sincere condolences to the family of the victim, his friends and his co-workers.”