Prabhjot Singh arrived in Australia three years ago as an international student with a heart full of ambition and the determination to build a brighter future for his family back home in Haripura village, Sirsa, Haryana.
On Friday (19 Septemeber 2025) morning, that journey came to a devastating end when Prabhjot was killed in a freak workplace accident at the Cleanaway Coolaroo Material Recovery Facility in Melbourne’s north.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, but the 27-year-old could not be saved. Reports indicate that after completing his work, Prabhjot was closing a door when a loader, reversing without checking the area, struck him. He became trapped between the trailer and the loader and tragically died at the scene from the impact.
For his loved ones, both in Australia and India, the news has been crushing. Prabhjot’s sudden death has left a deep emotional void and placed his family in an unimaginable situation — facing the grief of loss while also struggling with the financial burden of repatriating his body home for his final rites.
His friend, SP Sandhu, has now launched a community fundraiser to support the grieving family. “Prabhjot was a kind, hardworking, and loving soul who touched the lives of everyone around him,” Sandhu said.
“We are reaching out to friends, community, and anyone who can help us bring him back home and support his family.”
Funds raised will go directly toward covering the costs of transporting Prabhjot’s body to India, arranging funeral and prayer services, and providing some financial stability for his parents as they navigate life without him.
Cleanaway expressed its condolences, saying the team was “deeply saddened by the loss of life.” A company spokesperson said:
“Our priority is supporting those impacted by the incident, in particular family, colleagues, and our workers at the site.”
For many in Melbourne’s Indian-Australian community, Prabhjot’s story is tragically familiar — of a young migrant leaving behind family and homeland to chase opportunity, only for fate to intervene. The outpouring of support reflects not just shared grief, but also the collective spirit of a community determined to honour one of its own.
As the fundraiser gains momentum, Prabhjot’s friends hope that generosity will help ease the family’s burden and ensure he is laid to rest in his village, surrounded by the love of those who raised him.
Police confirmed a report will be prepared for the coroner, while WorkSafe Victoria has launched an investigation into the incident.
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