Devastated father demands answers after his teenage son plunges 12 metres to his death at a construction site - and only found out about the fatal fall on Facebook
- Wesley Ballantine, 17, plunged 12 metres to his death at a Perth construction site
- His father Tyrone Buchanan has spoken of his grief as he demands answer
- The teen was installing a glass ceiling at the Old Post Office redevelopment site
- He was working a night shift at 4.30am around the building when he fell
- Mr Buchanan has questioned the safety procedures at the Forrest Place site
- He was told his son was reportedly not wearing a safety harness when he worked
A distraught father whose teenage son plunged 12 metres to his death at a construction site has spoken of his grief.
Wesley Ballantine, 17, was installing a glass ceiling at the Old Post Office redevelopment site in Forrest Place in Perth's CBD when he fell on Thursday morning.
The teenager was working a night shift at 4.30am around the building, which is being converted into a H&M clothing store.
His father, Tyrone Buchanan, said he only learned about his son's fatal fall after reading a 'tribute' on Facebook - as he demanded answers over the tragic incident.
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Wesley Ballantine, 17, (pictured) plunged 12 metres to his death at a Perth construction site
His father Tyrone Buchanan said he only learned about his son's death after reading a 'tribute' on social media - as he speaks of his grief, demanding answers over the teenager's death
'I read some tribute on there and I start breaking down,' Mr Buchanan told media.
'I feel robbed. I felt like someone stole my son from me... Killed him because of these shortcuts.
'Wesley was a proud young man. He was a hard working guy, very intelligent.'
Mr Buchanan has questioned the safety procedures at the site after being told his son was reportedly not wearing a safety harness.
The young boy was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital but he was unable to be revived.
'I just can't comprehend how a kid could go up there at his young age - and not to be wearing a harness,' Mr Buchanan said.
'This kid, my son, he was not trained and if he was, he didn't have enough experience to go up there.
'Was he supervised? If he was, who send him up there without harness on? I want this person who's responsible brought to justice.'
The 17-year-old was installing a glass ceiling (pictured) at the Old Post Office redevelopment site in Perth's CBD when he fell 12 metres to his death on Thursday morning
Mr Buchanan has questioned the safety procedures at the site after being told his son was reportedly not wearing a safety harness
The grieving father said his son's death has taken a toll on him as he struggles to bring himself to the site where Wesley died on Thursday morning
The grieving father said his son's death has taken a toll on him as he struggles to bring himself to the site where Wesley died.
'I'm too devastated to even go there,' he revealed as he broke down in tears.
'Because if I go there, it's just going to confirm to me that he's gone. I just don't want to confirm it. I don't want to confirm that he's dead.'
Family and friends have set up a makeshift shrine outside the construction site where he died.
Photographs taken by construction union just hours after Wesley died revealed unprotected openings covered with loose plywood, 9 News reported.
The 17-year-old boy was working a night shift at 4.30am around the building, which is being converted into a H&M clothing store
Photographs taken by construction union just hours after Wesley died revealed unprotected openings covered with loose plywood
The grieving father said his son's death has taken a toll on him after he fell to his death
His father took to social media to pay a heartbreaking tribute to his son.
'In memory of Wesley Ballantine (1999 - 2017); my beautiful handsome son taken too soon by God at only 17,' he wrote.
'I love you son; I am so proud of you especially your knowledge of astronomy, world politics, economics, and guitar playing - I'm so proud of you.
'Go ahead son and travel to that star we've talked about - may you have a wonderful journey home.
'Mum and dad are proud of you and we will always love you forever — we'll meet again in heaven.'
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