A Dargaville man is dead after a fatal rockfall in a gold mine in Western Australia.
Malcolm Wayne Fowlie, 59, died on Saturday after a mine collapse in Norseman, 722km east of Perth, in the Goldfields-Esperance region.
The death happened at Central Norseman Gold's underground Harlequin Mine, according to the Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum.
Mr Fowlie's wife Raewyn was believed to be heading to Australia and daughter Mindy, who left Norseman last week, posted a photograph of the grandfather on Facebook as a personal tribute.
Tributes to the keen triathlete and marathon runner have also come in from his running colleagues at the Kauri Coast Hash House Harriers, where he was an active member since returning from a previous stay working in Western Australia in 2001 or 2002.