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Coroner investigating death at construction site in downtown Victoria

One person is dead following a workplace accident Tuesday at a construction site at the former Customs House building at Government and Wharf streets. The B.C.
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First responders at the scene of an accident at a construction site at the corner of Government and Wharf streets in Victoria on Tuesday. ADRIAN LAM, TIMES COLONIST

One person is dead following a workplace accident Tuesday at a construction site at the former Customs House building at Government and Wharf streets.

The B.C. Coroners Service confirmed it is investigating a death but no further details were available.

Victoria police said they were called to the work site just before 4 p.m. for a report that a man suffered potentially life-threatening injuries. The person died of their injuries, Victoria police said.

A spokesman for Banyan Group of Companies Ltd., construction manager for the project, said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened to confirm there has been a serious incident resulting in a fatality of a worker on one of our downtown projects.” The worker was not a Banyan employee, but was an employee of one of the subcontractors, the spokesman said.

“Counselling is being made available to all those affected. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the friends and family of the worker involved,” he said.

Victoria police said they are in the initial stages of their investigation.

Investigators took photos of a scaffold suspended on the fifth floor of the seven-storey building.

Some of the construction workers sat on a nearby bench looking shaken and distraught.

Orange tarps were put up on the blue fences around the site to shield the public from the scene.

The former government building at 816 Government St. is being turned into a 57-unit condominium building.

Anyone affected by the incident can call Victims Services at 250-995-7351, or the 24-hour line through Victim Link at 1‑800‑563-0808.

kderosa@timescolonist.com