Tradesman, 40, killed after falling seven metres from an air conditioning vent while working inside a university library
- An air-conditioning contractor fell seven metres to his death Monday morning
- The 40-year-old man was working inside a library at James Cook University
- Workplace Health and Safety has launched an investigation into the fatality
A worker has fallen seven metres to his death while carrying out maintenance work inside a university library.
The 40-year-old man was working at James Cook University’s Smithfield campus in Cairns, Far North Queensland, on Monday morning when tragedy struck.
The air-conditioning contractor fell from a vent in the library about 10.30am.
Emergency services were called to the scene and paramedics desperately tried to revive the man but he could not be saved.
An air-conditioning contractor has fallen seven metres to his death at James Cook University’s Smithfield campus library (pictured)
A student who was nearby the scene but did not witness the fall told The Cairns Post she was shocked to hear news of the man’s death.
‘Apparently library staff were called out and it was an extremely horrific scene and they assumed that he wasn’t going to make it,’ she told the publication.
Workplace Health and Safety has launched an investigation and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
The university is assisting investigators and is offering counselling to staff and students.
The man died at James Cook University about 10.30am on Monday. The university is pictured
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