Man's body found near MacKay Bridge prompts workplace accident investigation

The death of a 44-year-old man whose body was found near the MacKay Bridge on the Africville side on Monday morning is being investigated as a workplace accident, the Department of Labour has confirmed.

The provincial department is releasing little information about the incident except to say a stop-work order was issued to Scotiascapes Landscaping Inc.,for the job sitelocated at 6245 AfricvilleRd. The department would not confirm what the man was doing at the time.

Halifax Regional Police say the man is from Ellershouse, north of MountUniacke.

An RCMPdive team was in the Bedford Basin Tuesday searching the waters around the eastern end of the Cerescontainer pier, not far from where the man's body was discovered on Monday.

Crews have been working for months to extend the length of the container pier by dumping stone into the basin.

Officers were called to a report of a bodybelow the MacKay Bridge in the area of Africville Road at 9:50 a.m. Monday.

"We believe the workplace incident occurred at a workplace kind of north of Africville Park off of Africville Road. So, he wasn't working on the bridge or anything, he was on land when we believe the incident occurred," said Const. Carol McIsaac.

With the help of Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency, police recovered the body, which was sent to the medical examiner's office.

Police say the investigation was turned over to the Department of Labour.

Alison MacDonald, speaking for Halifax Harbour Bridges, said the man was not a bridge employee, nor was he associated with the bridge commission.

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