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Young father Tim Macpherson used to cheekily keep his friends abreast of his rigging job building a fancy wharf at the Barangaroo development in the heart of Sydney.
"Time to upset the restaurants during lunch," he posted on Facebook just three weeks ago along with a photograph of the barge he was working on.
Investors from SafeWork NSW are continuing to investigate the death of a man after a workplace incident at Barangaroo in central Sydney.Vision courtesy: ABC News 24
A woman and her seven-year-old boy have died in a crash on the Hume Highway near Wilton, a seven-year-old girl is fighting for life with critical injuries.
A woman and a seven-year-old boy have died following a horrific crash on the Hume Motorway south of Sydney. A seven-year-old girl is fighting for life in hospital with critical injuries. Vision: Nine News.
The former head of the NSW gaming authority has said it was a mistake for the former NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell to grant a licence to James Packer to build a high rollers casino in Sydney without a public inquiry. ABC TV's Four Corners
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Investors from SafeWork NSW are continuing to investigate the death of a man after a workplace incident at Barangaroo in central Sydney.Vision courtesy: ABC News 24
Life for the smiling construction worker was looking brighter and brighter.
He and his wife, Ashleigh, had only moved their growing family into their new home north of Maitland a few months ago; and they knew there was only a few months before their toddler son, Jack, had a sibling.
But in an instant on Wednesday afternoon, everything changed forever.
Mr Macpherson was watching on as a three-tonne metal beam was lifted by a crane, when it knocked into another beam, which toppled and hit him.
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Mr Macpherson died at the scene, sending his family into deep mourning and unions into a search for answers.
"A young woman, pregnant with one child on the way and another toddler, and no breadwinner...and their kids will never know their father. It is absolutely devastating," said Brian Parker, the state secretary of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union.
Killed in Barangaroo accident: Tim Macpherson. Photo: Facebook
Mr Macpherson had been working at the site for about six months, and was part of a crew building a ferry hub at Barangaroo which is expected to open in the first half of this year.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also offered his sympathies, telling media: "That is a tragedy. Every industrial accident is a tragedy and our condolences and sympathies going to the family."
Tim Macpherson had just moved into a new home with his family. Photo: Facebook
The union met with government officials on Thursday while police continued their investigation on behalf of the coroner.
SafeWork NSW were also investigating the death as unions increased pressure on authorities.
"We have a grave concern about the work that was being carried out and whether it was being carried out correctly," Mr Parker said.
Contractor McConnell Dowell's Australian managing director, Jim Frith, said in a statement that the company's thoughts were with the family.
"We are providing his employer with all the assistance they need to support his family, and all affected staff are being offered support and counselling," the statement said.
"The full circumstances are unknown at this time and McConnell Dowell will continue to work with the authorities as they investigate the incident."