Oil rig worker dies in workplace incident months after wedding

Just a few months after getting married, a 25-year-old oil rig worker has died following a workplace incident involving a fall near Rimbey, Alta., prompting a formal investigation by provincial Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) authorities, according to a report.

The worker has been identified by family and friends as Derrick Cullum, an oil rig hand from Calgary.

He collapsed on Dec. 28 while working on a rig near Rimbey. Co-workers performed CPR until EMS arrived and took over, but he could not be revived, CTV News reported.

The cause of Cullum’s death has not yet been determined. Alberta OHS has confirmed it is investigating the incident as a fatal workplace event following a fall, according to the report. No further details have been released about the nature of the fall, the task being carried out at the time, or the specific location on the rig.

Cullum’s employer, Precision Drilling, has not commented on the incident and the investigation, according to CTV News. The company has also not publicly disclosed what fall protection, safety procedures or emergency response protocols were in place at the time.

Young widow facing hardship

Cullum got married in July. He leaves behind his 25-year-old wife, who is now facing immediate financial and emotional hardship.

Family and friends have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help support Cullum’s widow in the aftermath of the fatal incident.

“There are no words that can truly capture the heartbreak of losing your partner, your best friend, and your safe place all at once,” according to the GoFundMe campaign. “At just 25 years old, Brayden is now facing the unimaginable navigating grief, shock, and heartbreak while also facing the practical realities that no one should ever have to deal with at this age.”

Loved ones described Cullum as a well-liked and generous member of the rig workforce. “Derrick was the give-your-shirt-off-your-back kind of guy,” family friend Cassandra Shearer told CTV News. “He was very outdoorsy. He loved to hunt and play hockey.”

_{File photo from GoFundMe}