A Pennsylvania teenager has died after he was pulled into a wood chipper while he was working his summer job.
Isiah Bedocs was working with a tree removal service when his clothes got caught by the machine in the Lehigh Valley, according to the New York Post.
The tragic incident happened around 1.30 pm, and officials flew to the scene shortly after.
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They transferred the 17-year-old Coldplay native to a local hospital via a helicopter as he suffered ‘multiple traumatic injuries', as per the state police.
However, Isiah was pronounced dead at 2.45 pm.
While police are still awaiting the autopsy report, the young man’s death has been cited as an accident.
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A neighbour who didn’t want to be named witnessed the accident and told WPVI-TV: "It's very unnerving, and it's very sad for what happened to the young man. I'm very sorry he didn't make it.”
Isiah was just weeks away from starting his course at Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, where he was enrolled in the auto technology program.
After news broke of his passing, the institute issued a statement via PEOPLE: "Our hearts are with his family members and friends as they grapple with this unimaginable tragedy."
Superintendent of the Whitehall-Coplay School District Dr Robert Steckel, also notified students in a letter that counselling would be available to those who need it.
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In the wake of the teenager’s death, a close friend of the family, Christine Castro, launched a GoFundMe page to help support the family.
In the post, Christine describes Isiah as a ‘happy’ young man with ‘his whole life ahead of him’.
She wrote: “He was working his way through summer with a tree company with a friend & He actually just brought another friend on to help the same day he died. This accident had taken the community of Whitehall and beyond in devastation."
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She added: "Mom & step dad also his dad and step mom - his brother and sisters along with many other family members and friends will have a long road ahead of them with expenses. I am asking the community to help this family. Osha And PA State police are involved… everyone is just taking day for day right now and trying to cope and deal with the heartbreak.”
An investigation into the accident is also currently underway, with the Bethlehem Criminal Investigation Unit and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) assisting.
Topics: News
Charisa Bossinakis