Triple tragedy: mother killed in work accident, two children killed

A Masterton family is mourning the loss of three members: a mother killed in a work accident, a daughter who died and a distraught son whose life ended in an alleged suicide.

Anita McRae suffered fatal chest injuries in November 2018 after being dragged into the sawmill machinery in Kiwi Lumber.

The 36-year-old never got to know her two grandchildren, who were born this year.

His daughter Angel, who would have turned 20 this week, died five years ago, McRae’s mother, Paddy Norman, 62, told the Herald.

And McRae’s son, Clevelyn, died in an alleged suicide in February of this year as he struggled with the enormous pain of losing his sister and mother.

Norman said that his family had endured immeasurable suffering and sadness.

“Everybody tells me, ‘You’re strong.’ I have to be, but I’m not.

“I have to be the voice of the dead.”

McRae, whom Norman called his “robe girl,” had worked at Kiwi Lumber since January 2017.

WorkSafe discovered that it had accessed the machinery used to classify and classify wood to eliminate a fault. It restarted and was pushed into the machine sprockets.

The company appeared in Masterton District Court last month and was fined $ 350,000 in a decision published this week and ordered to pay the family in reparations totaling $ 263,762.

WorkSafe Chief Inspector Steve Kelly said the tragedy highlighted the need to ensure machinery was properly protected.

Norman said his daughter was a hard worker who loved her job.

“So I can understand that she’s trying to get into that machine and get it going.”

McRae loved hobbies as a Masterton teenager and adored her three children, Norman said.

The family was still mourning Angel’s death in 2015 when McRae’s life was cut short two years ago.

The tragedies were too much for Clevelyn, who died suddenly in February this year at age 21, just a few months before the birth of her first child.

Norman said he was sorry for McRae’s only surviving son, Dane, 18, who had “lost everyone.”

His heart also went out to the man who was operating the machine the day McRae died. Norman wanted her to know that the family had no ill will.

“I really want to get in touch and say ‘it’s not your fault’ because he has to carry that for the rest of his life.”

What was left of the family was now trying to rebuild their lives and move on.

They were preparing to sell McRae’s Masterton home and allocate part of the proceeds to his surviving son and grandchildren.

Norman also planned to put some of the repair money into a trust for the youth.

But her daughter’s death had left a “great black hole” from which she may never recover.

“It’s not fair, I miss her every day. I just miss her so much.”

READ MORE:
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• Death in the workplace in Hawke’s Bay
• Death in the workplace: an incident involving a forklift results in a tragedy
• Death at work: ‘I lost my best friend, the love of my life’

Kiwi Lumber Managing Director Adam Gresham said the company accepted the findings of the WorkSafe investigation and pleaded guilty to the charges.

“This was a tragic accident that meant that our colleague lost her life. Everyone who goes to work must return home safely at the end of each day.

“What happened was also very distressing for many of our team, especially those who were working the day of the accident.”

The company had made significant security improvements and investments to the site over the past three years, many of which were related to protection and security controls.

“We appreciate the judge’s recognition of our prompt acceptance of responsibility for the incident, the assistance we have provided during the WorkSafe investigation, and the additional safety systems we have introduced at the mill since then.

“The safety and well-being of our people is, and always will be, our number one priority.”