Man whose body was found sticking out of a charity bin ‘suffered catastrophic injury

A man whose body was discovered protruding from a charity bin at a Westfield shopping center on the Central Coast of New South Wales seemed to have suffered a fatal injury, likely breaking his neck while engaged in a practice known as ‘bin surfing’ or ‘dumpster diving’.

According to sources from the police, the man was apparently attempting this activity when he lost his balance and fell, resulting in the tragic accident. It is believed he had been using a bicycle to access the donated items within the bin.

Emergency services responded to a call at Westfield Tuggerah around 4.25 am on Tuesday after a passer-by noticed the unusual sight of legs hanging from the charity bin. Upon arrival, authorities found the man trapped inside the container, with a bicycle found nearby.

A witness, who preferred to remain anonymous, recounted that two of his colleagues had passed by the bins around 3 am on their way to work and noticed the bicycle on the ground, unaware of the tragedy unfolding.

Expressing sadness over the incident, the witness suggested the need for measures to prevent such accidents in the future, such as internal latches on the bins.

Police have ruled out foul play in the man's death, attributing it to a mishap during bin surfing.

Sadly, this incident adds to a series of fatalities related to charity bins. In 2021 alone, two women and a teenager lost their lives in separate incidents involving these containers. The cases underscore the dangers associated with such activities, urging for greater awareness and preventive measures.