BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) – The operator of the excavator that fell into a body of water on Eagles Island has been found dead, according to a spokesperson with the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office.

He has been identified as 26-year-old Austin Eugene Furner from Carolina Beach. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident, according to the N.C. Department of Labor, since the land is owned by the Army Corps of Engineers.

A spokesperson with the Army Corps of Engineers told WECT, “Ongoing work at Eagle Island is an improvement project of the Eagle Island Confined Disposal Facility (CDF). The cells must be improved and maintained to allow for the safe disposal of dredge material from the Wilmington Harbor. We are aware of an incident which resulted in a death at Eagle Island, where our contractor (Rigid Constructors LLC) was performing dewatering activities using heavy equipment.”

According to the Corps, Furner was removing pipe at Cell 2 on Eagle Island at the time of the accident.

New Hanover County Fire Rescue was dispatched to Eagles Island in Leland, not far from the Battleship North Carolina just after 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 19.

Footage from the scene shows the heavy machinery upside down in the water, with the cab completely submerged. It is not known exactly what caused the machinery to overturn.

A spokesperson for the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office said more details will be released later.

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