AN investigation into an incident which resulted in the death of a 49-year-old machine operator is underway.

The police have identified the deceased as Joseph Hollingsworth of Lot 1177 Section ‘B’ Pattenson, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown.

Enquiries disclosed that the incident occurred on September 07, 2024 at around 09:30hrs at Coghlan Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, where the deceased was with Travis Pierpont, a businessman of Onderneeming, Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.

According to the police, Pierpont hired Hollingsworth to transport an excavator from Coghlan Dam, West Bank Demerara, to his residence using a motor truck with registration number GAE 4266 which he (Pierpont) owned.

The excavator was loaded onto the truck; however, as Hollingsworth was about to drive off, he realised that the truck could not hold the weight of the excavator.

In the process of offloading the machinery from the truck, the excavator fell into a drain pinning Hollingsworth there.

The man was subsequently taken out of the drain by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead by a doctor on duty.

The body of the deceased was transported to the Ezekiel Funeral Home, and is awaiting a post-mortem.