2019 Baralaba
At approximately 1.30am on Sunday 7 July, Mr Gerdes was delivered to an excavator in the open mining pit where his task was to commence waste mining activities.
The operator of the first truck to present for loading received no response from Mr Gerdes and exited the truck to check on him. Subsequently the truck operator initiated the emergency response.
Emergency responders attended the scene quickly and found Mr Gerdes on the stairs of the excavator with injuries to his head, face and limbs. Mr Gerdes was transported to Baralaba hospital, 5km away.
It is believed that Mr Gerdes became caught between the body of the excavator and the safety rails of the stairs, sustaining injuries as the stairs descended. At this point, it remains unclear as to how this sequence of events occurred and this remains the focus of the investigation.
No other mining equipment or personnel were involved.
This accident claimed the life of Jack Gerdes