Woodside death: Tributes for contractor Michael Jurman

Tributes are flowing for a contractor who tragically died on Friday while working on a Woodside Energy gas project off Western Australia’s Pilbara coast.

Vertech Group on Monday identified the worker as Michael Jurman.

Managing director Tom Brennan said his “loss will be felt deeply” and described him as a “humble, caring, genuine guy” who was passionate about rock climbing and caving.

He added Mr Jurman had a “beautiful attitude to life, and he was well-thought-of by those around him”.

Woodside Energy’s executive vice president Australian operations, Liz Westcott, flew to Karratha on Saturday to meet workers returning from the site on their way home.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends whose lives have been changed forever,” she said.

“But we will learn and we will change to make sure no family goes through this ever again.”

She said the company was working closely with all relevant agencies and authorities.

“It is early days and we don’t yet have the full knowledge of what led, what unfolded, for this tragedy,” she said.

According to The West Australian the death occurred during a “working over the side” activity, or a task on the outside of the platform.

The Offshore Alliance union also took to social media to pay tribute to Mr Jurman writing “a gentler soul you couldn’t meet”.

“The offshore community is grieving for a life which has been lost way too early. RIP brother,” the union wrote.

Osborne Park-based All Areas Access, a group that provides rope access operations and training, described Mr Jurman as a “friend, a colleague and a role model to so many” on Facebook.

“It was a privilege to have known you and work with you for the past couple of years,” it said.

“You have given so much more than you would ever know and touched the hearts of everyone you met. This is one of those instances when life doesn’t seem to make sense. You were stolen far too soon.”

The post was inundated with tributes for Mr Jurman.

“Such a nice guy — nothing but kind thoughts and good words to say for him. He was definitely one of the good ones taken way to soon. RIP — pleasure to have worked with you,” one wrote.

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Another said he “blazed out warmth, sincerity, camaraderie and kindness:”.

“I don’t think he had an unkind thought anywhere inside him. His smile was deep and genuine and generous, whenever he spoke with you he wanted to hear all what you had to say, he wasn’t just waiting for his turn to talk,” they said.

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