The 54-year-old was clearing a driveway on a rural property at Gympie, Queensland with two of his friends yesterday when the ghastly accident happened.
Acting inspector Paul Algie described the horrific incident as “absolutely shocking”.
He told ABC: “It’s a horrendous thing to have to attend as a police officer – any sudden death – but these circumstances were absolutely shocking.
“Everyone’s obviously very distressed and we’re still trying to workout the circumstances as to who has seen what.”
The inspector said he became “entangled” within the machine and died as a result of his injuries and “there was nothing that could be done” to save him.
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The friends were reportedly doing a favour by clearing a driveway for a lady who owns the property.
Mr Algie said the man’s two friends were “extremely distressed”.
He said: “They’re very traumatised as a result of what’s happened and police are assisting them obviously in any way we can in terms of ongoing welfare needs.”
The victim died instantly and the death is being treated as an accident.
The identity of the victim has not been released.
Health and safety officials are continuing to investigate the incident with the police.
The police have been in touch with the victim’s family and they have been offered support.
Mr Algie said: “There’s very clear guidelines in terms of the paperwork that comes with these machines and also I noticed on the trailer there’s a number of warning stickers in relation to how the machine should be used.
“We just implore that people follow those instructions carefully, because obviously only a small mistake can obviously lead to a very, very horrible set of circumstances leading to someone passing away.”
A specialist police unit Disaster Identification Squad has been brought in from Brisbane to identify the man.