AN IRISHMAN died over the weekend in a scaffolding collapse in Western Australia.
Seán McBride (28), from Burtonport, Co Donegal, working under contract for Rio Tinto, was carrying out maintenance work on Saturday on the East Intercourse Island jetty near Dampier when part of the scaffolding fell into the water beneath him.
Nobody saw Mr McBride fall but work colleagues, alerted by the sound of breaking scaffolding, immediately raised the alarm when they spotted his hard hat in the water.
A search was launched but initial attempts to locate Mr McBride were unsuccessful. Twelve hours later police divers recovered the body from the ocean near Dampier Port.
Police Insp David Picton-King, based at nearby Perth, said there were no witnesses to the fall.
All work ceased and the site was closed. A coroner’s inquiry was under way yesterday. Both police and the Mines Department in Western Australia were investigating the cause and circumstances surrounding the accident.
A spokesperson for Rio Tinto said the tragedy would be fully investigated by the company and in co-operation with the authorities.
He said: “I offer my sincere condolences to family, friends and team mates. We are ensuring that appropriate counselling services are available.”
Irish consular officials were helping to keep the family up to date with the investigation.
Burtonport parish priest Fr Pat Ward said: “The community is absolutely devastated. It’s a huge blow in the area and for Seán’s family, who are very well-respected.”
Friends recalled that Mr McBride, who has two brothers and three sisters, returned earlier this year from Australia to complete paperwork and he was delighted when he secured a four-year work permit to enable him to return six weeks ago.