ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY MOURNS DEATH OF ‘KIND-HEARTED’ CAIRNS DAD
Family and electrical industry in mourning
THE electrical industry is in mourning after the death of respected family man and larrikin Sol Fagan on Monday at a Smithfield work site.
Mr Fagan, 40, died when he fell 7m while working at the James Cook University library at 10.30am.
Electrical Trade Union Cairns organiser Rob Hill said “the industry was in shock and mourning”.
“He has touched a lot of people,” Mr Hill said.
“You should never ever go to work and not come home.
“He was a larger than life character. This town is hurting because of what happened, that’s for sure.”
Mr Fagan worked as an air duct installation contractor with Portsmith’s AlphaCool.
“He absolutely adored his family. He was a character – he is sorely missed,” Mr Hill said.
“A lot of people in town will be hanging their heads.
“We want to reach out and respect the family and if there is anything we can do we will.
“We will be watching the investigation, if there is anything that can be done to prevent further occurrence we will be watching it with bated breath.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up for wife Hayley and her two children.
It comes just after the family marked the death of close friend Claire Tucker who tumbled from a bridge into a stormwater drain after the Cairns Cup one year ago.
Tributes have been flowing in on social media to support the Fagan family.
They were also close to the family of Ruben McDornan, the sole survivor of the FV Dianne disaster that claimed six lives in October.
John Spray of J & R Refrigeration said the incident hit home hard.
“When we see what can happen it’s pretty devastating,” Mr Spray said.
“We are all out there doing exactly the same thing and could have been in the same position with the same result.”
He said the company would re-examine how to approach similar work.
“We have some plans to handle these sites and suggestions to put in guards to stop access to these areas similar to where he has fallen through.”
A Workplace Health and Safety investigation into the incident is ongoing and will be presented to the coroner.
AlphaCool has been asked for comment.