WAMMCO boss labels abattoir death a ‘terrible incident’ and extends condolences to worker’s family and friends

WA Meat Marketing Co-operative chief executive Coll MacRury has labelled the death of a young man at the Katanning abattoir on Saturday a “terrible incident” and expressed condolences to the worker’s family and friends. WorkSafe is investigating the fatality, which occurred about 3pm after the man — a foreign national in his 20s — became trapped in machinery while working at the meatworks in the heart of WA’s Great Southern. Mr MacRury issued a statement this week, describing the fatality as a “terrible incident”. “In relation to the terrible incident on Saturday, firstly our hearts and thoughts are with the family of the person who died,” he said. “A full investigation by WorkSafe WA is now underway, after which we will have more information.” The deceased man’s age and identity have yet to be revealed, with police confirming on Monday they had yet to notify his next of kin. He is understood to be of Tongan descent, with his death sending shockwaves through Katanning’s greatly-multicultural community. Katanning police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Carlos Correia said the community would rally around the man’s family and friends. Worksafe investigators travelled to the scene on Saturday and again on Sunday morning. The probe into what occurred is still in its early stages and a report will be prepared for the coroner. The WAMMCO incident is understood to be the first death at a WA abattoir in two years, after a 49-year-old Margaret River man was killed in February 2020 while working at the Western Meat Processors In that incident, the long-term employee cut his femoral artery with a knife while on the job. The man, who had worked with the company for 14 years, died in hospital.