Body of missing worker found near northern Ontario mine: OPP

A 48-year-old Timmins man has died as a result of a workplace accident near a northern Ontario mine, Ontario Provincial Police say.

Emergency crews were first called to Taylor Township, near Kirkland Lake Gold's Taylor Mine, Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. after an employee for Major Drilling went missing.

Inspectors from the province's Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development were dispatched to the scene to investigate.

OPP's underwater search and recovery unit found the man's body Wednesday, police said in a news release.

Denis Larocque, CEO of Moncton-based Major Drilling, told CTV's Lydia Chubak the victim's body was found underwater by the dive team with no witnesses around.

He said the man worked in the drilling business for more than 30 years, first with Norex Drilling, which Major Drilling bought a couple years ago.

“All I heard was good things over the last day from his colleagues," Larocque said.

"How good a teacher he was, good team leader and a person. We offer our condolences to family and friends and coworkers ... Our focus right now is to help the family and the coworkers deal with this by offering support and counselling while we wait to hear exactly what happened.”

An autopsy is scheduled for next week.

Officials with Major Drilling told CTV News they they are co-operating with the OPP and Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

The investigation continues with the coroner's office, Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, Ministry of Labour and OPP.

With files from Lydia Chubak, CTV Timmins videojournalist.