Police name man killed at Fonterra plant

Police have released the name of the man who was crushed to death in an accident at Fonterra's Edendale plant in Southland on Thursday night.

He was David Shaw, 39, of Burwood, Christchurch.

Mr Shaw had been missing for about 12 hours when emergency services were alerted late yesterday morning.

Ambulance staff found Mr Shaw dead from a "crushing injury" in a lift shaft at the plant, 37km northeast of Invercargill.

A Fonterra spokeswoman said Mr Shaw was a contractor who had been working on installing a drier as part of a $212 million expansion due to be commissioned in the next fortnight.

He was working on the elevator when he became lodged between it and a bracket, according to police.

Department of Labour staff were at the plant yesterday investigating the accident.

Police have referred the matter to the Dunedin coroner.

- NZPA