14.07.2011

Fatal power line accident

One man died and another was severely burned this morning near Melbourne, Australia after their trailer lift came into contact with overhead power lines.

The accident occurred in Spotswood to the west of Melbourne, the men worked for a plumbing firm,

Ambulance Victoria team manager Matt Culka, who attended the scene, said a man in his 30s died in before paramedics could reach him. Access to the two was delayed while the power was cut off, the flames were then extinguished and the lift lowered using its emergency controls.
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This is apparently the lift that was involved

The second man, said to be in his 20s, suffered life threatening injuries, including significant burns to his body and has been taken to hospital in a critical condition.

We have been sent two photographs from the scene, which show a small, possibly 10 metre trailer lift set up behind the van that clearly towed it to site.
We are told that this is the machine that the men were using.

One of the paramedic team said: This was a horrific’ incident and was witnessed by several passers-by who were clearly distressed by what they had seen. It is also very difficult for the emergency service workers to see young men at work in their prime to sustain such significant injuries.”
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Emergency service and investigators are on the scene

Police and WorkSafe investigators are on the scene and will prepare a report for the coroner