Workplace accident, Jordan Springs: Man dead in building site fall

The man killed in a freak workplace accident at a building site in Sydney’s western suburbs has been identified as Mohamad Riche.

The 38-year-old fell from a height of five-storeys and down a long shaft just after midday at the Geneva Jordan Springs development on Jubilee Drive, near Penrith.

One of Mr Riche’s workmates told The Daily Telegraph he saw the whole incident unfold.

“The guy was working on the roof to remove building material which was immediately adjacent to the shaft roof. He then tripped over and has fallen down the shaft,” he said.

Multiple emergency crews, including a Care Flight helicopter, rushed to the scene after receiving frantic calls from Mr Riche’s co-workers.

“(But) when we arrived, we found that he had fallen several floors through a void in the ceiling, like a service void of a lift well,” NSW Ambulance Inspector Craig Thomas told news.com.au.

“It was a direct fall of approximately seven floors onto the concrete below.

“The specialist paramedics set up an abseiling rope to gain access and … to go down and confirm whether or not he had passed away.”

Inspector Thomas said the man suffered fatal injuries that he couldn’t have recovered from.

“There was damage to various parts of his body,” he said.

The inspector described the situation as a “quite an emotional scene”.

“There was quite a large number of construction workers up here, there was a bit of a language barrier and they were obviously quite concerned about his welfare,” he said.

The workers were “quite upset” when they were told by authorities their colleague had died. The Daily Telegraph reports the man’s workmates refused to leave until his body had been retrieved.

“He’s come to work and he’s not going home,” Inspector Thomas said.

“It’s the hardest part, I suppose, what looks to be an avoidable incident and he’s not going to be going home to whatever family he’s got.

“It is an avoidable type of incident. It is just a real tragedy.”

A report will be prepared for the coroner following the construction site death.

“There are no suspicious circumstances and police are working in conjunction with SafeWork NSW,” the police force said in a statement this afternoon.

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