Police say they are disappointed with the "negligent behaviour" of a person who informed the wrong family about a tragic logging death after listening in on a police scanner.
The person contacted the family after listening in on police radio reports of a forestry worker who died when he was struck by a falling tree in Marlborough this morning.
"This inconsiderate action caused a chain of events which tied up police and victim support services in tasks that diverted them from their other more pressing duties," Sergeant Michael Porter of Blenheim police said.
"More importantly, the negligent behaviour of this person reacting to what he or she heard on a police scanner caused undue stress on the family of the person wrongly advised."
The victim was trapped beneath a fallen log and died at the scene while working at the logging site in Robin Hood Bay, Port Underwood, about 20km from Blenheim, about 10am, Mr Porter said.
"Colleagues in the vicinity responded quickly and co-ordinated emergency services to the site but unfortunately were unable to save the worker."
The accident was a "tragic situation", he said.
The man's name would be withheld until his identity had been verified.
Police and the Department of Labour were investigating the death.
- NZPA
Police disappointed after wrong family advised of death
File photo.
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