Man meets untimely death at a Westfield charity bin: 'They need to do something'
- Replies 5
In a heart-wrenching incident at Westfield Tuggerah, a man's life came to a tragic end in a way that few could have anticipated.
The practice, known colloquially as 'bin surfing' or 'dumpster diving', is not uncommon among those seeking to find usable items, whether out of necessity or as a means to reduce waste.
However, this incident starkly highlighted the shocking dangers associated with this activity.
His body was discovered in the early hours of the morning, half-emerged from a charity bin, a victim of what appears to be a catastrophic accident while attempting to retrieve items from within.
'We believe he was bin surfing, fell and broke his neck,' police said.
The man is believed to have lost his footing on a bicycle he was using to prop himself up to reach inside the charity bin.
The fall resulted in a fatal neck injury.
Emergency services were called to the scene around 4:25 am after a passer-by noticed legs hanging out of the charity bin.
Upon arrival, officers found the man's body wedged inside the chute of the bin, with a bicycle lying on the ground nearby.
A crime scene was established at the eastern end of the car park on Wyong Road.
'It's very sad. They need to do something to stop people getting into them, like an internal latch or something,' a witness who wished to remain anonymous said.
This tragic incident is not an isolated case.
In 2021 alone, the bodies of two women and a teenage boy were found in charity bins in three separate incidents.
In April 2021, Mikki O'Shea, 43, died after becoming stuck in a charity bin behind a Gold Coast shopping centre.
Three months later, the body of mother-of-one Alarrah Lawrence, 33, was found in a similar situation in Rockingham, South of Perth.
Tragically, 13-year-old Spencer Benbolt Jr was crushed to death when the skip bin he was sleeping in was emptied into a garbage truck in Port Lincoln, South Australia.
Another woman suffered the same tragedy in a charity container in Moonee Ponds in Melbourne’s Northwest in July 2020, and so did another man in Sydney in 2015.
Our thoughts go out to those affected by the incident. May the man rest in peace.
What are your thoughts on this incident? Let us know in the comments below.
The practice, known colloquially as 'bin surfing' or 'dumpster diving', is not uncommon among those seeking to find usable items, whether out of necessity or as a means to reduce waste.
However, this incident starkly highlighted the shocking dangers associated with this activity.
His body was discovered in the early hours of the morning, half-emerged from a charity bin, a victim of what appears to be a catastrophic accident while attempting to retrieve items from within.
'We believe he was bin surfing, fell and broke his neck,' police said.
A man allegedly lost his life while 'bin surfing'. Image source: Shutterstock.
The man is believed to have lost his footing on a bicycle he was using to prop himself up to reach inside the charity bin.
The fall resulted in a fatal neck injury.
Emergency services were called to the scene around 4:25 am after a passer-by noticed legs hanging out of the charity bin.
Upon arrival, officers found the man's body wedged inside the chute of the bin, with a bicycle lying on the ground nearby.
A crime scene was established at the eastern end of the car park on Wyong Road.
'It's very sad. They need to do something to stop people getting into them, like an internal latch or something,' a witness who wished to remain anonymous said.
This tragic incident is not an isolated case.
In 2021 alone, the bodies of two women and a teenage boy were found in charity bins in three separate incidents.
In April 2021, Mikki O'Shea, 43, died after becoming stuck in a charity bin behind a Gold Coast shopping centre.
Three months later, the body of mother-of-one Alarrah Lawrence, 33, was found in a similar situation in Rockingham, South of Perth.
Tragically, 13-year-old Spencer Benbolt Jr was crushed to death when the skip bin he was sleeping in was emptied into a garbage truck in Port Lincoln, South Australia.
Another woman suffered the same tragedy in a charity container in Moonee Ponds in Melbourne’s Northwest in July 2020, and so did another man in Sydney in 2015.
What are your thoughts on this incident? Let us know in the comments below.
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