Worker dies in truck platform accident

A 63-year-old man was killed instantly yesterday when the raising platform on the back of the truck he was working on collapsed.

Constable Chris Robertson, of Westport police, said the local man and two others had been changing the platform's motor on the back of the privately owned truck at the Westport Holiday Park.

Mr Robertson said he understood the men had taken the oil out of the hydraulics for the platform and were instead using wood to prop it up.

The wood broke at about 5pm, causing the platform to collapse and strike man in the head. He died instantly.

One of the other two men was struck in the shoulder by the platform but he was not seriously injured.

Mr Robertson said Occupational Safety and Health would be investigating the incident today. It was unlikely any charges would be laid as the vehicle was privately owned and was on private property at the time of the incident.

Police would release the man's name once all his family had been contacted.

- NZPA