Victorian man killed by 200kg server

A man has died after computer equipment fell on him in Laverton North, West of Melbourne, whilst a workmate helped unload it with a forklift.

Paramedics from Newport were called to the man, aged in his late 50s, just after 3pm Tuesday.

A WorkSafe Victoria spokesman told iTnews the server was two metres tall, "as big as a fridge" and weighed 200kg.

"It was on the back of a semi-trailer and mounted on casters," the spokesman said.

Contrary to a Victorian Ambulance statement, the WorkSafe spokesman said no pallet was attached to the server.

"It wasn't mounted on a pallet or secured in any way," the spokesman said.

Ambulance Victoria clinical support officer Mark Lamb said the man was in cardiac arrest with bystanders and firefighters performing basic life support when paramedics arrived.

"It appears the man was helping others unload a large computer server from the back of a truck," Lamb said.

"The equipment has started to slip from a forklift and it appears that the man has tried to stop it.

"It has then fallen on him and he has suffered critical head and chest injuries."

An investigation by Police and WorkSafe began today, WorkSafe said.