Bowen Basin: Young worker is killed in workplace accident at Saraji mine

Worker, 27, died at Saraji mine in DysartUnderstood the death involved light vehicles  Marks the second death in five years at mine READ MORE: Man rescued after spending over 24 hours trapped in mine shaft

A 27-year-old man has died following a serious accident involving light vehicles at a coal mine in central Queensland.

The young worker died on Monday afternoon at the Saraji mine in Dysart – a major Bowen Basin (BMA) open cut mine located 600km south of Townsville.

It’s understood the man died in an accident involving light vehicles, with police informing his next of kin.

Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) are investigating the incident and the circumstances that lead to the young worker’s death.

The 27-year-old man worker died on Monday afternoon at the Saraji mine in Dysart – a major Bowen Basin (BMA) open cut mine located 600km south of Townsville (pictured)

BMA’s asset president Adam Lancey said he is ‘deeply saddened’ by the incident and that all operations at the mine have been suspended.

‘We are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our colleagues has been fatally injured following a serious incident at Saraji mine,’ Mr Lancey told the Courier Mail.

‘Emergency services responded to the scene and RSHQ has been notified. We are working closely with the Mines Inspectorate and relevant authorities.

‘We offer our deepest sympathy to the person’s family, friends and colleagues.’

A report will be prepared for the coroner following police investigations.

The tragedy marks the second death at the mine in five years, following the death of a  49-year-old worker in 2018.

The incident marks the second death at the Saraji coal mine in five years (stock image of Queensland Emergency Ambulance)

Allan Houston was killed on December 31, 2018, when his dozer rolled down an 18 meter embankment, landing upside down in a pool of mud and water.

The Gracemere father was found trapped in the cabin of his vehicle with his seatbelt fastened.

The Saraji Coal Mine is a coal mine located near Dysart in the Central Queensland region of Australia.

It is Australia’s fourth-largest coal mine and ranks as the tenth biggest in the world by recoverable coal reserves – amounting to 648million tonnes of coking coal.

The mine has been producing up to 10 million tonnes of coal per year since 1974.