The man who was killed at work in Calgary this week will be remembered as a kind and generous man.
Bobby Jimerson met Liam Johnston 14 years ago. They met in 7th grade in Waterloo, Ontario.
“He was a special person. Liam had a very special personality that drew you to him. He was a giving person and a person to be with,” Jimerson said Saturday.
Johnston died Thursday at work in a residential neighborhood in northwest Calgary.
After the moat collapsed, rescue workers were called to the 2600 block of 34th Avenue NW in the community of Charleswood at approximately 10:45 a.m.
Global News was told that around 8pm the body of a 27-year-old man had been found
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The battalion commander said that initially there was no trench box, so crews had to place one before safely entering the trench.
According to a fire department spokesman, a person was in the ditch doing sewer repairs along an alley when one side of the ditch collapsed.
The Calgary Fire Department’s engineering rescue team, along with a backhoe and hydro-vac, were on the scene.
Emily Gofton had been dating Johnston since December. The two had met while working for Mr. Mike’s Plumbing.
“He was an incredibly kind, compassionate person. He gives everything for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you knew him from a meeting or if you’ve known him all his life. He always wanted to be there for you and give everything he’s got,” Gofton said.
Gofton recalled the moment she received the news of what happened on Thursday.
“Shortly after emergency services were called, I received a call and was there when they arrived. I was terrified and hoping that by the time I got there he would be out. As time went on, I hoped this was a nightmare I would wake up from,” Gofton said.
“It was something he was afraid of. It was something he talked about – the possibility that this could happen.”
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Gofton said Johnston has worked at Mr. Mike’s Plumbing since August 2021
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Body of 27-year-old man recovered from trench collapse in northwest Calgary
“We really want anyone with information to come forward. It’s so important that everyone involved is held accountable,” Gofton said
In a statement provided to Global News, Mr. Mike’s Plumbing said the company extends its condolences to everyone who knew Johnston and said safety was his top priority.
“Mr. Mike’s Plumbing Ltd. announces with great sadness the death of one of our employees who died while excavating at a construction site on Thursday 8th June. He was a genuine man and a valued member of our excavation team which we will be sorely missed,” the company said.
“We are working closely with the authorities to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the incident and to ensure that appropriate action is taken to prevent such accidents in the future.”
The company said it would not comment further while the health and safety investigation is ongoing.
Jimerson said his friend knew how to make people laugh.
“Liam was one of those people you thank God for meeting because he was so rare. It didn’t matter how much or how little he had. He was willing to give you anything to make sure you had enough. He would sacrifice anything or anything to make other people happy. He was a brother to me and always asked about me. We lived together for many years.
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“Liam always did his best to make sure I was okay. He was a very special, amazing person and I thank God every day that I got to know him,” said Jimerson.
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