A worker who was crushed by a 22-tonne wind turbine blade has been remembered as a ‘great’ partner by friends who have rallied to support his heartbroken wife.
Jess Patience, 36, died when the huge support fell on him as he worked on a construction site at the Golden Plains wind farm in Rokewood, Victoria, 132km west of Melbourne, at 8am on Monday.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, but were unable to save him.
WorkSafe Victoria is investigating the incident and The Australian Workers’ Union labeled it an “avoidable accident” and said the “devastating loss could have been prevented”.
Vestas, the company that owns the wind farm, confirmed this was the case closed while emergency services and authorities continue their work.
Another Golden Plains employee, Elliot Sawkins, said his team had lost one of his “brothers” in a social media tribute.
A GoFundMe has been launched to support the family and widow of Jess Patience, who died in a workplace accident on Monday
Mr Sawkins wrote that Mr. Patience was “one of the nicest guys I have met.”
‘[He] took me under his wing to teach me a lot during my time working with him,” Mr. Sawkins wrote.
‘He was always up for a chat about many of our shared experiences, from growing up in nature to living in Canada, he was a top man.’
“This tragedy resulted in someone not coming home from work and leaving their wife behind.”
Images of the workplace 7News showed three turbines, two of which appeared to be held up by a metal structure.
The third knife appeared to have fallen from the structure holding it up, and there was also a crumpled ladder on the ground next to a large knife.
Several emergency services were seen at the scene, including an ambulance, a fire truck and the police.
Jess Patience died when a wind turbine blade crushed him at the Golden Plains wind farm in Rokewood, Victoria, 132km west of Melbourne, at 8am on Monday.
Workers in distinctive clothing and hard hats were on site, along with police, paramedics and SES volunteers.
Some distraught workers gathered in a nearby field after the tragedy.
A GoFundMe was launched by friend Lee Denko Unpleasant support Mr Patience’s widow and his family with funeral costs.
Mr Denko described Mr Patience as a “great man” who “should still be here”.
“As we cope with this unimaginable loss, we want to honor his memory and support his family during this difficult time,” Denko wrote on social media.
“We invite you to join us in celebrating Jess’ life and legacy. Your contribution, no matter how small, will make a big difference.’
He urged everyone to celebrate ‘Jesse’s life and legacy’ by making a donation to the fundraiser.
It has already raised more than $75,000 in just two days, including a $5,000 donation from a wind turbine installation company.