In one week, a coroner's inquest will delve into why a forest worker died on the job in the Cariboo.
Charles Henry Engelbert died on April 17, 2010 the day after being critically injured while falling trees on a forestry worksite near Likely.
"Presiding coroner Tom Pawlowski and a jury will hear evidence from subpoenaed witnesses to determine the facts surrounding this death," said coroner Barb McLintock in a written statement on behalf of the BC Coroner's Service. "While the jury may not, by law, make any findings of legal responsibility, it will have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances in the future."
A fan of hockey, hunting, the outdoors, a noted carpenter, he was a month short of his 30th birthday when the incident occurred. He was raised in the tight-knit community of Alexis Creek, with friends and family spread widely. His funeral was held at the Chilcotin Log Church at Hanceville with internment at the Alexis Creek Cemetery.
The day after his funeral, a note was posted on the online forestry forum at www.arboristsite.com that read:
"Well we just laid to rest one of my best guys yesterday. 28 [sic] years old. He was one of the safest, most productive fallers you could ever meet. One of the happiest guys I've ever known too. Never saw him in a bad mood. And he flat out loved to fall timber. He was working for a buddy on his two weeks off from camp and got tagged by the top of a fir snag. The falling world truly lost one of it's best."
A memorial fund was established at the Williams Lake branch of Scotiabank (account No. 511100371580) to pay for faller training for future foresters.
He is memorialized on WorkSafeBC's Day of Mourning website. The circumstances will now be examined under oath. The inquest into Engelbert's death will commence on Monday at the Williams Lake Courthouse. It is scheduled to last up to Feb. 17 if necessary.
