A father and stepson working together on a construction site have been identified as the victims of a tragic retaining wall collapse in Brisbane's West End. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday morning, claimed the life of 45-year-old Kimura Dixon and left his 19-year-old stepson trapped for over 90 minutes with serious injuries.
A Desperate Rescue Effort
The emergency unfolded around 8.30am on Tuesday on Boundary Street. Coworkers and emergency services rushed to the scene where the teenager was buried from the waist down, with a heavy concrete slab crushing his chest and hindering his breathing. Queensland Police Inspector Chris Pemberton praised the eight workers who assisted officers in clearing debris from the young man's chest in a frantic initial effort.
"He was then left in situ due to the complexity of the entrapment for the fire service to extract him," Insp Pemberton stated. The Queensland Fire Department's Marc O'Brien described a highly complex operation using tools typically seen at earthquake sites. Laser monitoring and large plywood sheets were deployed to shore up the unstable structure and prevent a secondary collapse.
Complex Extraction and Severe Injuries
Firefighters used a range of methods from bare hands and sledgehammers to concrete cutting tools to free the trapped teen. After more than 90 minutes, he was finally extracted and transported to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a stable condition, but with serious leg injuries.
Queensland Ambulance Service operations supervisor Elly Rienks confirmed the extrication was "quite difficult." Paramedics had to move the 19-year-old slowly to prevent shock and managed to stabilise him in the ambulance. "He was very lucky. His injuries were definitely severe," Ms Rienks said. It is understood the pair were working in a shallow trench roughly a metre from the wall when it gave way.
A Family's Heartbreak and Safety Investigation
The devastating human cost of the accident was expressed by Mr Dixon's grieving daughters on social media. One daughter reshared an article about the incident, writing poignantly: "Rest in peace Kimbo, Dad. Health and safety is real." Another shared photos of her father, writing: "My heart is broken, my Dad... I love you so much, I wish I had the chance to say goodbye."
In a later statement, she described her father as "the most caring and amazing father ever" whose "love for us kids was beyond words." Inspector Pemberton noted the profound tragedy of the timing, calling it "a tragic thing to have happened so close to Christmas."
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collapse. Queensland Police will also prepare a report for the coroner as authorities seek to determine the cause of the fatal industrial accident.
