A young family is mourning the loss of a much-loved husband and father who was killed in a tragic workplace accident.
Mika Tua was chopping trees at a property in Perth’s east when he was electrocuted yesterday.
The 29-year-old tree lopper with several years experience was working on a Maida Vale property when his tools hit power lines.
Wife Shirley Tua screamed when she heard the news.
“Normally I always get him up, make him a tea and say, ‘Honey please be safe’ and yesterday was the first time I didn’t say that and now he’s gone,” she said.
The Tuas met at church nine years ago. Now Ms Tua, wearing her husband’s clothes to keep him close, has been left to raise their three children alone.
“My daughter because we’re all crying she just kept holding, closing her ears – it’s just a sad feeling eh,” she said.
Mr Tua, originally from New Zealand, is being remembered as a loving father and sports fanatic with a big laugh.
“We planned to go on holiday, and he’s gone,” brother Tua Tua said.
“I want him to be here to continue our plan”.
Investigators have examined what happened with the aim to prevent another family going through similar heartache.
“We’re looking at different angles here, was the person adequately trained to do the work, what was he instructed to do, what was the employer’s instruction to him,” WA director of energy safety Saj Abdoolakhan said.
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