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UPDATED: Nelson man killed in logging accident

A 35-year-old Nelson man died this morning in a logging accident west of the city.
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A 35-year-old Nelson man was killed in a logging accident early Monday morning.

The Nelson RCMP were called to the vicinity of Smallwood Creek Forest Service Road, an area approximately 12 kilometres west of Nelson, at approximately 8 a.m.

They were joined by the Beasley Fire Department and Nelson Search and Rescue.

By the time emergency teams arrived, the man had already succumbed to his injuries.

“A worker was struck by a log while doing a job they’ve called choker,” said WorkSafe BC communications officer Alexandra Skinner-Reynolds. “The employer was AF Timber. It happened on Garrity Forest Service Road.”

Skinner-Reynolds said a special fatal and serious incident investigation team has been assembled to look into the tragic accident.

“They’re taking over and conducting a full investigation. Then we’ll know more. It could take a month or three months depending on the complexity of the incident and whether or not there were witnesses, what kind of things need to be looked at,” she said.

Skinner-Reynolds said they will also look into the employer’s training procedures and engineering control.

Barb McClintock of the B.C. Coroners Service said the man’s name has not been released because some members of his family had not yet been notified. She expected the name to be released late Tuesday.