Tragic Accident at Saraji South Coal Mine

Emergency services were called to BHP Mitsubishi Alliance’s Saraji South coal mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin on Monday following reports of a devastating accident. Luke O’Brien, a 27-year-old BEP engineering and maintenance worker, was fatally crushed in the incident.

According to reports, O’Brien had been working in a fuel-bay area of the mine when the unfortunate incident occurred. He was pinned between a fuel truck and a mining ute when the ute unexpectedly rolled backwards instead of forwards, resulting in critical crush injuries.

Despite being rushed to Dysart hospital, O’Brien tragically succumbed to his injuries.

A Beloved Speed Racer

O’Brien was not only known for his work but also his passion for speed racing. As a modified sedan racer, he had gained recognition and respect in the region. The Old Saloon Car Association, a group he was a part of, shared the news of his untimely death on Facebook.

“The whole speedway family is saddened at this time on the passing of Luke O’Brien from injuries suffered in a workplace incident,” the post read. “Luke was a popular competitor who had a gentle soul and was always willing to help anyone. Condolences to the O’Brien family – RIP Luke – you have joined the speedway in the sky.”

A Heartbreaking Loss for Friends and Family

Glen Payne, a high school friend of O’Brien, expressed his devastation over the tragedy. “Yeah, pretty tough,” he said. “He loved speedway. He loved it for years through his father as well. His father raced it for many years.”

Mining Community in Shock

The Queensland mining community is reeling from the news of O’Brien’s death. Mitch Hughes, the Mining and Energy Union Queensland president, expressed his deep sorrow over the incident.

“This is the worst news we can ever receive,” Mr. Hughes said. “We are devastated that a coal miner is not returning home at the end of their shift. Our hearts go out to friends and family. We offer our deepest thanks to first responders and support to workmates who may be traumatized by the events. Union safety inspectors are at the site to conduct a thorough investigation, we will ensure no stone is left unturned in understanding what has occurred and preventing future fatalities and injuries.”

A Troubling Pattern

Tragically, O’Brien is the 24th worker to lose their life in a mining accident in the past decade in Queensland. This incident also marks the second fatal incident at the Saraji South coal mine in the last five years.

In 2018, Allan Houston lost his life when the bulldozer he was operating rolled down an embankment, causing him to drown in a pool of mud. The mining operator now faces court action over alleged breaches of workplace health and safety obligations.

An Investigation Underway

Rob Djukic, the CEO of Resources Safety and Health Queensland, assured that a comprehensive investigation is currently in progress to determine the cause of the latest tragedy at the Central Queensland mine.

“As soon as we were notified of the incident, we launched an investigation sending multiple investigators and inspectors from our Serious Incident Investigation Unit and Coal Inspectorate to the site,” Mr. Djukic said. “We’d like to offer our sincere condolences to the family of the victim, his friends, and his co-workers.”