WA: 53-year-old mine worker dies while readying for cyclone
26 Jan 2009 6:45 PM
PERTH, Jan 26 AAP - A mine worker preparing for the onset of tropical Cyclone Dominic has been killed while dismantling a crane at Port Hedland.
Worksafe WA said the 52-year-old man, who worked on a joint Fortescue Metals Group-McConnell Dowell site at Anderson Point, died while dismantling the crane following warnings about the approach of the category one cyclone.
There were unconfirmed reports the man was struck by a swinging hookline.
The man and his colleagues were working on a port extension project in the town on WA's Pilbara coast.
Officers from Worksafe WA are travelling from Karratha to Port Hedland to investigate and prepare a report for the coroner.
WA Police say the deceased was originally from Queensland.
At 3.55pm (WST) on Monday the weather bureau said Cyclone Dominic was 175km north-north-east off Onslow and 150km west-north-west off Karratha and moving towards the Pilbara coast.
