A crane operator was killed when he was struck by a flying bolt after a strop on the load he was moving broke at a Taranaki engineering firm yesterday morning.
Roebuck Cranes employee Allan Robert Peacock, 38, was working in the yard of McCurdy Engineering on Devon Rd, New Plymouth, when the accident happened.
The broken strop flung back and a D-link bolt hit Mr Peacock in the head, killing him.
Mr Peacock, of New Plymouth, was operating a Hiab crane moving a load of heavy gas cylinders at the time of the accident.
Senior Sergeant Selwyn Wansbrough said police were called to the accident at the Waiwhakaiho engineering firm about 10am.
He said the industrial crane did not have a cab, but was operated by the person standing on the ground beside the crane.
It was believed Mr Peacock was killed instantly.
Police and the Department of Labour are investigating the accident, which happened during heavy rain.
