Chad Wiklun, 29, dies after accident at Agrium Vanscoy, Sask., potash mine
Wiklun caught between 2 pieces of mobile equipment while working underground
A worker who was seriously injured at the Agrium potash mine in Vanscoy, Sask., has died overnight.
Chad Edward Wiklun, 29, was caught between two pieces of heavy machinery while working underground.
The mine's general manager Todd Steen confirmed on Thursday the employee died at 10:40 p.m. Wednesday night.
"We met employees at the gate and gave them the horrible news and sent them home," he said in an interview.
"We asked them to keep the family in their thoughts. We're offering any support that we can."
The mine remains closed and Steen said there is no set date for start up.
United Steelworkers Local 7552 is setting up a trust fund for Wiklun's two young children. Steen said the company is matching employee contributions.
The mine is located about 30 kilometres southwest of Saskatoon and employs about 775 workers.
Steen said the province would be investigating the death and Agrium would hire an independent company to probe the incident.