The deceased was 30-year-old Dwayne Beaumont and at the time of the incident, Mr Beaumont was assisting with the loading of an excavator onto a float (flatbed trailer).

Mr Beaumont has moved to Batchelor in recent years and is a ground manager for Aerotech.

The excavator was fitted with a large excavator bucket, which contained two smaller buckets and a ripper.

Mr Beaumont was standing on the float in front of the excavator, when one of the smaller buckets dislodged and fatally struck him.

Mr Beaumont and the excavator operator are not employees of the plant hire company.

The transport of excavator attachments in large buckets appears to be common practice; these attachments should be secured to prevent dislodgement.

Police are also investigating the cause of the accident.