4/01/2008

News Item

Powerline claims life of popular dad

THE close-knit community of Condamine today is struggling to come to grips with the sudden death of popular farmer Greg Eising who was electrocuted on Wednesday night.

The father of three died after the irrigation equipment he was moving touched an overhead powerline just before 7pm.

Friends said Mr Eising was settling into a "very happy" life balance between work and play before the tragic accident.

The popular 48-year-old rugby union prop, a member of the over-35s Codgers team, had been driving a tractor on his "Green Acres" property 43 kilometres west of Condamine.

Police and ambulance officers said one of the 10-metre arms of an irrigation boom spray he was towing struck the live powerline.

Paramedics from Miles made the 74 kilometre journey within 40 minutes, but were unable to immediately attend to Mr Eising because the wire was still live.

Miles Queensland Ambulance Service officer-in-charge Tony Stout said Ergon workers turned off the power and, 15 minutes later, officers were able to check the 48-year-old, but Mr Eising had not survived.

"When we arrived, we found him in the machine and it appeared as if he had struck a single, overhead powerline," Mr Stout said.

He said the 25 metre by 15 metre irrigation machine had one arm raised in the air.

It is believed Mr Eising was working alone at the time, but was found by a family member.

Power was cut to 29 homes in Condamine until about 3am yesterday.

Workplace Health and Safety is investigating the incident.

Condamine's 120 residents were left "gutted" by the loss of the popular community identity.

Condamine Cods Rugby Union spokesman Andrew Smith said the larger-than-life front-rower had dreams of playing in the Golden Oldies World Cup in New Zealand in September this year.

Mr Smith said he last saw the Codgers team member at the club's Christmas party last month.

"He was his usual jovial and cheeky self," he said.

"This will devastate his family, and this has gutted the town."

Mr Smith said Greg's wife Marion and their three children Nicole, Tanya and Condamine Cod A-grade player Shane were being comforted by family and friends yesterday.

He described Greg as a "very, very, strong man" who loved the rugby atmosphere and who had found real happiness at this stage in his life.

"He was enjoying everything and was very happy.

"I wouldn't say he was relaxing by any means, but he was stepping back from a very busy rural enterprise business," Mr Smith said.

"He was someone people looked up to, not just in his team, but the entire club."

Ergon Energy spokesman Andrew Fox said numerous calls were received about homes being without power in the Condamine area about the same time as Mr Eising's accident.

"We are co-operating with Workplace Health and Safety and are making our own assessment of what has occurred," Mr Fox said.

A Workplace Health and Safety spokesman confirmed they were investigating, but could not provide any further details last night.

source: http://www.thechronicle.com.au/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3759965&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=