A worker who was seriously injured in a workplace accident at the Agrium potash mine near Vanscoy, Sask., on Monday has passed away.
Chad Edward Wiklun, 29, succumbed late Wednesday to injuries a family spokesperson said “were too great for even him to fight.”
He leaves behind his partner of 13 years, Celine, and two daughters – Casey, 7 and Carsyn, 6.
READ MORE: Worker seriously injured at Agrium’s Vanscoy, Sask., potash mine
Wiklun was injured when he became caught between two pieces of equipment while underground early Monday morning.
He had been an employee at the mine since November 2010.
Todd Steen, general manager of the mine, says the loss is devastating to Wiklun’s co-workers.
“The people that work here and the people that worked with Chad on his crew are like a family,” Steen said Thursday.
“Words can’t describe how our workforce feels about this right now and a lot of tears and a lot of heartache right now for sure at our workplace.”
United Steelworkers local 7552 is establishing a trust fund for Wiklun’s two daughters and Agrium has agreed to match all employee donations to the fund.
A gofundme page set up to support his family has already raised over $15,000.
Saskatchewan Occupational Health and Safety continues to investigate.
With files from The Canadian Press