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Two builders from Northern Ireland die in accident in Australia Two builders from Northern Ireland die in accident in Australia
(about 2 hours later)
Two builders who died in an industrial accident in Australia are from Northern Ireland. Two builders killed in an industrial accident in Australia were from Northern Ireland, it has emerged.
The two men who died after being hit by a falling concrete slab on a building site in east Perth are understood to be from Omagh, County Tyrone and County Derry. The men, who died after being hit by a falling concrete slab on a building site in East Perth, are understood to be from Omagh, County Tyrone, and County Derry. The victims, who were in their early 20s, were killed in the accident at about 11.30am local time (0330 GMT).
The victims, who were in their early 20s, were killed in the accident at approximately 11.30am local time on Wednesday. One of the dead men was named locally as Joe McDermott from Omagh. He had been in Australia for just over a month.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said it was “aware of the case and stands ready to provide consular assistance”. Tributes to McDermott were posted on social media, including one from his former employers at a local hotel/bar in the Tyrone market town. The Silver Birches and Tipplers wrote: “The management and staff of Tipplers would like to offer our sincere condolences to the McDermott family at the untimely death of Joseph (Hoss). Not only was he a colleague, he was a friend. To his many friends our thoughts and prayers are with you all. RIP Hoss.”
Western Australian police said officers responded to calls that “two people were trapped under a large piece of concrete”. A local Sinn Féin councillor, Sorcha McAnespie, who knew McDermott’s family, said there was a “palpable sense of grief” over his death.
The construction firm Jaxon said in a statement: “Our workforce is grieving and our focus is on supporting the families and those affected.” A spokesperson for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs said it was “aware of the case and stands ready to provide consular assistance”.
The company added: “The accident is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the relevant authorities ... it would be premature to speculate or pre-empt the findings of the investigations. Jaxon construction firm said: “Our workforce is grieving and our focus is on supporting the families and those affected. The accident is subject of an ongoing investigation by the relevant authorities and it would be premature to speculate or pre-empt the findings of the investigations. We are cooperating fully with the coroner’s office and Worksafe and will make further announcements as and when additional information becomes available.”
“We are cooperating fully with the coroner’s office and WorkSafe and will make further announcements as and when additional information becomes available.”