Frank Vella (right), 52, and his brother George (left), 48, have been remembered as ‘good community men’ by heartbroken locals in Sarina, central Queensland
Two brothers believed to have been gassed to death inside a molasses tank have been remembered as ‘good community men’ by heartbroken locals.
Tiny rural town Sarina, in central Queensland, has been rocked by the deaths of long-time locals Frank Vella, 52, and his brother George, 48, on Saturday.
Police believe their bodies were found inside a storage tank after they were poisoned by fumes while cleaning inside.
More than half a dozen shocked members of the community paid touching tributes to the brothers on Sunday, while they came to terms with the loss, Daily Mercury reported.
George’s old boss Angelo Sorbello said: ‘George was the best fellow I knew.’
‘George came to us as a young man and worked for us for many years … I still can’t believe it. I saw him just last Thursday.’
The two brothers are believed to have been gassed to death while cleaning inside a molasses tank on Saturday. Pictured: George Vella
Local Kerrie Micallef posted to Facebook, remembering the pair as ‘hard working’ and ‘generous’ men.
Meanwhile, friend Kevin Keating said Frank was a ‘top bloke’ who he would go on trips with and meet weekly at the local hotel.
‘We always said we needed to do our trips more often because you don’t live forever,’ he told the publication.
‘It’s just hard to realise that this has happened.’
Workplace investigators were on site at the transport company (pictured) on Sunday morning as they tried to work out what caused the incident
Police believe their bodies were found inside a storage tank (stock image) after they were poisoned by fumes while cleaning inside
Workplace investigators were on site at the transport company on Sunday morning as they tried to work out what caused the incident.
A Workplace Health and Safety Queensland spokesman told AAP it had seized a ‘prime mover with a trailer carrying two transport tanks’ for investigation.
Sarina councillor Martina Bella said the death of the men, both employees with Vella Haulage Sarina, would ‘knock’ the community.
The spokesman could not confirm how the men died.
‘Everyone knows them, I went to school with the family,’ she told the Mercury.