Tributes have been paid to a man from Omagh who has died in a building site accident in Australia.
Joe McDermott (24) has been named locally as one of the two men who died in the incident at a site in Perth.
It is understood Mr McDermott, a former pupil at Sacred Heart College in Omagh, died alongside a second man who is thought to be from Co Derry.
The men were both thought to have been in Australia on work visas.
The Management and Staff of Tipplers would like to offer our sincere condolences to the Mc Dermott family at the... Posted by Tipplers on Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Australian media is reporting that the two men were crushed when a concrete panel fell from a truck.
The tragedy happened on Wednesday at about 11.35am Australian time in east Perth, on a Jaxon apartment building site near the corner of Bennett and Goderich streets.
Emergency services are still working to lift the concrete slab that killed two construction workers @abcnewsPerth pic.twitter.com/RODcz2o5N5
— Laura Gartry (@LGartry) November 25, 2015In a statement Jaxon Construction extended its sympathies to the families of the two young men and counselling had been offered to the 52 employees and contractors who were on site and to the wider workforce.
"Jaxon has been in operation since 1958, and in 57 years had never experienced a fatality. Our workforce is grieving and our focus is on supporting the families and those affected. As a mark of respect, and to fully support our employees, all JAXON sites will be closed tomorrow."
The company says safety was its "highest priority".
"The accident is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the relevant authorities and it would be premature to speculate or pre-empt the findings of the investigation. We are co-operating fully with the coroner’s office and WorkSafe and will make further announcements as and when additional information becomes available."
The company said it "sincerely regrets to confirm a serious incident occurred at its Bennett Street apartment site in East Perth... which resulted in the death of two workers".
V sad to learn of the deaths of two young Irishmen in a construction accident in Perth,Australia.My thoughts & prayers with their families.
— Martin McGuinness (@M_McGuinness_SF) November 25, 2015The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin said consular staff were aware of the incident.
"The department is aware of the case and stands ready to provide consular assistance," a spokesman said.
Joe Byrne, SDLP assembly member for West Tyrone, said he believed one of the victims was from the Omagh area.
"It is very sad news to hear of two construction workers from Northern Ireland being killed in Australia, a long way from home.
"I feel particularly sad that a 24-year-old man from Omagh was on a building site and was killed.
"Construction work is always dangerous, it is always more difficult for a family and community when the accident happens so far away."
