A 27-year-old man has died after a serious light vehicle crash at a coal mine in central Queensland.
The young worker died on Monday afternoon at the Saraji mine in Dysart, a large open-pit mine in the Bowen Basin (BMA), 600 kilometers south of Townsville.
It is understood the man died in an accident involving light vehicles, with police informing his next of kin.
Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) is investigating the incident and the circumstances leading to the young worker’s death.
BMA asset president Adam Lancey said he is “deeply saddened” by the incident and that all operations at the mine have been suspended.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our colleagues has been fatally injured following a serious incident at the Saraji mine,” Mr Lancey told the Courier mail.
‘Emergency services attended and RSHQ has been informed. We work closely with the Mining Inspectorate and the relevant authorities.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the person’s family, friends and colleagues.”
Following the police investigation, a report will be prepared for the coroner.
The tragedy marks the second death at the mine in five years, following the death of a 49-year-old worker in 2018.
Allan Houston was killed on December 31, 2018 when his bulldozer rolled down a 60-foot embankment and landed upside down in a puddle of mud and water.
Gracemere’s father was found trapped in the cab of his vehicle with his seat belt fastened.
The Saraji Coal Mine is a coal mine located near Dysart in the Central Queensland region of Australia.
It is Australia’s fourth largest coal mine and ranks tenth in recoverable coal reserves – accounting for 648 million tonnes of coking coal.
The mine has produced up to 10 million tons of coal per year since 1974.