The body of a Qualicum Beach man has been recovered from a Catalyst mill silo in Crofton.
On Dec. 11, the B.C. Coroners Service confirmed Perry Vernon Thomas, 66, was the man killed while making a routine delivery of a truckload of wood chips to the mill on the night of Dec. 9
“Mr. Thomas was employed as a truck driver and delivered a load of chips to the Catalyst Paper mill at Crofton at about 5 p.m. on Dec. 9. When other workers could not find him about one-half hour later, they reported him missing,” coroner Barb McClintock said in a media release. “Emergency services were notified, and a search operation was launched. Mr. Thomas was recovered from one of the chip silos at the mill in the early morning hours of Dec. 11, but he could not be resuscitated. The silo is linked to the area where Mr. Thomas was to dump the chips by a conveyor belt more than 300 metres long.”
Investigators are working on the theory that Thomas somehow ended up on the conveyor and was drawn into the silo.
Catalyst CEO Joe Nemeth said the mill activated its Emergency Response Plan, when Thompson — who worked for a trucking company independent of Catalyst — was discovered missing by mill personnel.
“We are fully supporting the investigations,” he said in a statement. “We are all saddened by this tragic accident. I know you join me in extending heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends during this very difficult time.”
