An Australian father made a devastating discovery after going to look for his 26-year-old son when he failed to return home from work.
Max Parkin found his son, Josh Thomson-Parkin, dead at a worksite in the Adelaide Hills on Aug. 11 following an apparent accident involving a commercial wood chipper.
“I found him in that machine,” Max told News 24 through tears.
According to Max, the machine had become clogged and Josh had apparently been trying to clear it when part of the equipment fell on him and crushed him.
The tragedy came just four months after Josh married his wife, Mekayla.
She reportedly became worried when Josh had not returned home from work by around 4:30 a.m. and raised the alarm.
Max immediately feared something was wrong because Josh had spoken to him the night before about problems he was having with the wood chipper.
“He was having a chat on the couch with me Monday night about the machine that he died in,” Max told 7 News. “It was giving him a hard time all that day.”
Max then went to the worksite himself and found his son.
He is now questioning why Josh had allegedly been working alone around such dangerous machinery.
“I don’t understand. His boss should have found him, not me,” Max said.
SafeWork SA said inspectors are making further inquiries and assessing the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.
Josh’s employer, Mechanical Vegetation Solutions, said it was deeply saddened by his death and offered condolences to his family, friends and loved ones.
The company said its immediate priority was supporting those affected by the tragedy.
A union official has also claimed concerns had previously been raised about employees working alone around dangerous equipment.
Timber, Furnishing & Textiles Union SA secretary Dave Kirner alleged that the union had contacted the company and SafeWork SA about those concerns before Josh’s death.
“These are big issues — working alone — because if something happens there’s no one there to protect you or notify others,” Kirner said.
Josh’s loved ones remembered him as outgoing, caring and hardworking.
Longtime friend Kristina Pascoe described him as a “social butterfly” who could make friends almost anywhere.
His mother, Tanya Thomson, said her son was “empathetic to a fault” and had a strong work ethic.
“We’ve all been waiting to wake up from this nightmare,” she said.
She remembered Josh as quirky, funny and loving, adding that he was the kind of person who would “give anyone the shirt off his back.”
The workplace death remains under investigation.
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