WorkSafeBC is investigating the sudden death last week of a man on acreage in South Surrey.
According to police, the 51-year-old died Thursday afternoon as a result of injuries suffered while working on farm equipment.
“He appears to have been working on a machine and was injured by the machine, and as a result of those injuries, he has passed away,” Surrey RCMP Cpl. Scotty Schumann confirmed Thursday.
Police were called to the property, located in the 15600-block of 40 Avenue, shortly after 2:30 p.m. Oct. 6.
“There has been a sudden death and it appears to be the result of a workplace accident,” Schumann told Peace Arch News less than an hour later.
The victim, a Surrey resident, died at the scene. Victims-services personnel were dispatched to the scene.
While exactly what happened remains unclear, one person at the scene said emergency crews could be seen towards the back of a field on the property, near two tractors.
BC Coroners’ Service spokesperson Barb McLintock said the victim was part of a crew that was harvesting beets.
Trish Knight Chernecki, WorkSafeBC senior manager of media and government relations, confirmed Friday that the victim was a worker, and that WorkSafeBC has taken jurisdiction over the investigation.
She declined to share further details about the victim, citing privacy. Regarding cause of the incident, Knight Chernecki said it was “far too early” to speculate.
“The only thing I can confirm right now is that it was farm-equipment related.”
While an initial inspection report may be available this week, an incident investigation report – examining the cause and making recommendations for the prevention of similar tragedies in the future – “can take months,” Knight Chernecki said.
As of PAN press time Tuesday morning, the victim’s name had not been released.