Family mourns death of 19-year-old construction worker

The death of a 19-year-old in a construction site accident in Saskatoon was made even harder because the company is run by his family, his mother says.

Austyn Schenstead was killed after he was crushed by a large piece of concrete on Wednesday. The slab fell onto him from the back of a truck parked in a back alley in the 300 block of Tache Crescent. Schenstead was declared dead at the scene.

The company was working on a soundwall project for the City of Saskatoon. 

• 19-year-old killed by piece of concrete

"Anyone that had the opportunity to know him knew he was amazing," Schenstead's mother, Rebeccah McFarland, wrote in a Facebook post. "He was the funniest guy and always wanted to see other's smile. He loved scaring the crap out of me and playing pranks."

McFarland's post said that her son rarely missed a family gathering and that his friends meant everything to him.

"He truly did make my world a better place," McFarland wrote. "He came into my world unexpected and filled it with love, joy and happiness I never knew existed."

The Coroner's Office and Occupational Health and Safety are investigating. City of Saskatoon staff are also conducting their own review.​