Australian man dies in 'shocking' woodchipper incident

The man's death is being treated as an accident for the time being.

Police tape stretches across a road in Australia (David Gray/Reuters)

An Australian man has died in an “absolutely shocking” incident involving a wood chipper.

Acting Inspector Paul Algie told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that it was a “horrendous thing” to have seen the death of a 54-year-old Queensland man after he fell into the machine.

He and two friends were helping clear the driveway of a rural property owned by someone else about 700 miles north of Sydney in Goomborian, Gympie.

None of them were professional contractors, according to local police.

Mr Algie said the two friends who were present during the incident are “extremely distressed.”

The man’s death is being treated as an accident at this time, however the coroner’s report is still being prepared.

Mr Algie said: “there's very clear guidelines in terms of the paperwork that comes with these machines and also I noticed on the trailer there's a number of warning stickers in relation to how the machine should be used” and inspectors are looking into if the woodchipper was being used properly and safely.

Details about how the man fell into the machine and who saw what are still being investigated as well.

The victim’s identity has not been released by police.