The tragic story of the ‘humble’ gardener, 40, killed after being sucked into a wood chipper – who’d left his beloved teaching job for a better life in Australia after splitting with his wife and his dad dying
- Samuela Cirivakayawa, 40, was killed working in Sydney’s north on Saturday
- The Fijian national was putting lopped tree branches through a woodchipper
- Colleagues went to move a car, and Mr Cirivakayawa was dragged into machine
- He died on the scene and police and Safe Work NSW are now investigating
- Mr Cirivakayawa was a trained teacher who had family troubles recently
A man killed after being sucked into a woodchipper was a teacher from Fiji who had recently moved to Australia to start a new life.
Samuela Cirivakayawa, 40, was feeding branches into a woodchipper in Sydney’s north on Saturday morning when he was apparently dragged into the machine.
The two people working with him in Lindfield had walked away from their colleague to move their car at the time. They returned to find him missing and blood on the machine.
Mr Cirivakayawa had moved to Sydney after burying his father here earlier this year and separating from his wife.
Samuela Cirivakayawa, 40 (above) a teacher in Fiji, had recently moved to Australia to start a new life and was working as a tree lopper
![Police at the scene of the horrific incident on Saturday morning after Mr Cirivakayawa was killed outside the Cromehurst School in Lindfield, on Sydney's upper north shore](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/07/06/18180852-7437765-A_man_has_died_in_a_horrific_workplace_accident_involving_a_wood-m-51_1567834073994.jpg)
Police at the scene of the horrific incident on Saturday morning after Mr Cirivakayawa was killed outside the Cromehurst School in Lindfield, on Sydney’s upper north shore
![The woodchipper was promptly taped off by police on Saturday morning](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/09/04/18237448-7442047-image-m-10_1567998690975.jpg)
The woodchipper was promptly taped off by police on Saturday morning
‘He came to Australia to bury his dad, and later found a job – as the salary of teaching jobs in Fiji is quite low,’ said Saula Watson Buro, a teaching colleague and friend.
‘He was a nice person who always smiled and was hardworking … very humble and funny. We will miss him.’
Mr Cirivakayawa had faced ‘a lot of problems in his family’ before the accident, including marriage troubles, friends said.
Before his big from Fiji to Australia, he’d been teaching in Silana, a village on the coast of Fiji’s main island, with several Western volunteers.
He appeared to relish his new adventure, sharing several photographs of landmarks including Sydney Harbour and the Opera House on Facebook in March.
![One of several photos Mr Cirivakayawa shared of his new home - Sydney, Australia - in March](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/09/02/18235906-7442047-image-m-6_1567994302913.jpg)
One of several photos Mr Cirivakayawa shared of his new home – Sydney, Australia – in March
![His two colleagues had walked away from the scene and later returned to find blood on the equipment](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/07/06/18180870-7437765-image-a-50_1567834052035.jpg)
His two colleagues had walked away from the scene and later returned to find blood on the equipment
Tributes poured in on social media today, with a devastated friend saying Mr Cirivakayawa had been looking forward to travelling around Australia.
‘(You) said that you’d save up the money and then come to Broome and see my part of the world. Oh my gosh, can’t believe you’re gone.’
Another friend said: ‘(He) was such a very special person and friend who will missed by so many.
‘Cannot believe this has happened and my condolence to all his family, his many friends and students past and present … such a wonderful man.’
![A young Mr Cirivakayawa (front row) at teaching college with friends, including Saula Watson Buro (back row, left)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/09/02/18235908-7442047-image-m-7_1567994323163.jpg)
A young Mr Cirivakayawa (front row) at teaching college with friends, including Saula Watson Buro (back row, left)
Police were immediately informed after the grisly find and their investigation is being assisted by SafeWork NSW.
Mr Cirivakayawa’s employer, Arbor Tree Group, was approached for comment on Monday.
Another person, a Queensland butcher, was killed by a woodchipping incident in Australia in November 2017.