The body of a 28 year old migrant worker has been recovered from the ocean near Dampier Port after a piece of scaffolding collapsed beneath him.
The man, believed to be from Ireland, had been carrying out maintenance work from scaffolding on the East Intercourse Island jetty when part of the scaffolding fell into the water at around noon on Saturday.
Work colleagues immediately raised the alarm after they heard the scaffolding fall and saw a hard hat floating in the water.
Perth-based Inspector David Picton-King said there were no witnesses to the fall.
Initial attempts to locate the man, an employee of Celtic Scaffolding at the Rio Tinto site, were unsuccessful.
Police divers recovered the body just before midnight.
All work has ceased at East Intercourse Island and access to the site has been closed.
A coronial inquiry is underway, and both police and the Mines Department are investigating the cause and circumstances surrounding the accident.
Sam Walsh, Rio Tinto’s Chief executive Iron Ore and Australia, said the fatality was a tragic event.
He said it would be fully investigated by Rio Tinto and in co-operation with the authorities.
“I offer my sincere condolences to family, friends and team mates,” Mr Walsh said.
“We are ensuring that appropriate counselling services are available,” he said.