Farmer crushed in work accident
A SMALL Far Northern community is in mourning after a man was crushed to death in a tragic farming incident near Mouth Garnet.
The small town of Innot Hot Springs, just over 100km south west of Cairns, has been left reeling after Dominik Grkovic, 47, was pronounced dead on Friday afternoon at a Herbert River Rd property.
It is believed Mr Grkovic was crushed between a truck and storage silo in what Tablelands Mayor Joe Paronella described as a “dreadful accident with devastating consequences”.
“It’s a very tight-knit community,” Cr Paronella said.
“This was quite a shock for the community.
“I first met the family 35 years ago.”
Multiple emergency service crews including police, scenes of crime and the forensic crash unit were called to the property just after 4pm.
“They have been a very well-known and respected local family for many years,” Cr Paronella said.
“At 47, he was still so young. You never know what’s around the corner.
“Any accident like this on the farm is devastating to the local community and our thoughts are certainly with the family.”
Workplace Health and Safety are leading the investigation into the incident with assistance from police.
“We’ve got an inspector and investigator on site,” a WHS spokesman said.
“We are preparing a report for the Coroner.”
WHS are unable to comment further because an investigation into the fatal incident has commenced.
This comes as two men were found dead inside a tank in another tragic workplace incident south of Mackay.
The men, aged 52 and 48, died while they were cleaning a molasses tank at a Sarina transport business on Saturday night.
A police media spokesman said initial investigations suggested the men, who worked for the transport company, had been affected by fumes.
Emergency Service crews had been called after water was seen coming from the tank, police arrived and found the two men dead on scene.
WHS investigations into the incident continue.