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Band lead singer, 36, falls to death while setting up stage for Taipei New Year’s Eve countdown event
His loved ones were upset that the stage construction was allowed to continue despite being told that the inspection report would take 30 days to complete.
January 05, 2025, 02:49 PM
On Dec. 25, 2024, a worker fell to his death while setting up the stage for the New Year's Eve countdown event hosted by the Taipei city government.
He was later identified as the lead singer for Taiwanese band Ark of Redemption, 36-year-old Lawai Arik, reported CNA Taiwan.
Despite the fatal incident, the event company was allowed to resume work on-site within two days, and the event went on as scheduled six days later on Dec. 31.
In response, Arik's family and friends questioned why the work site was able to pass the labour department's inspection within 24 hours after the tragic incident.
They further alleged that the department had informed them that the inspection report would take 30 days to complete, and the event company did not respond to the incident sufficiently or purchase mandatory insurance for Arik.
What happened
According to CNA Taiwan, the fatal incident took place after Arik fell from a scaffolding on Dec. 25 night.
He was pronounced dead at the scene despite resuscitation by the paramedics.
On the Facebook page for Wild Tree Lab, an arts and craft store co-founded by Arik, a friend stated that Arik was setting up lights when he "fell 15 to 20m from height".
Arik was dressed in safety gear and had "over 10 years of experience" working in stage set-up under his belt, according to the friend.
Family & friends wanted answers
It was difficult for Arik's relatives and friends to watch the countdown event at his funeral hall, and every Christmas and New Year’s Eve will no longer be the same for Arik’s loved ones, the friend wrote in the Wild Tree Lab’s post.
Even though the host paid tribute to Arik as an “unnamed hero” and thanked all workers for providing a safe stage for the event to happen, Arik’s family and relatives did not feel comforted by the gesture.
"The family want to know the cause of the incident. They also hope Taiwan could implement construction safety protection fully so that no more workers will suffer injuries or lose their lives," read the Facebook post.
Response from Taipei government
In response, Taipei mayor Chiang Wan-an told Taiwanese media on Jan. 4, 2025, that the government was “very sorry" about Arik's passing and vowed to hold those responsible for the incident accountable.
Chiang added that he had "requested the relevant authorities to conduct checks on-site on the day of the incident" and "offered the government's condolences, as well as consolation money, to Arik's family".
According to him, preliminary reports from the labour department found that there was an oversight by the event company.
The director of Taipei's labour inspection office, Liang Tsang Chi, added that after the incident, the office "suspended works that took place 2m above the stage" and "ordered the company to improve worksite safety immediately".
Although the company applied to resume work on Dec. 26, 2024, the office found more safety lapses on-site and only allowed work to resume at around 4:50pm on Dec. 27, stated Liang.
While the investigations into the incident are still ongoing, the office's preliminary findings indicated that "the company had failed to ensure that its workers wore safety harnesses correctly".
The office will hold the company accountable and expedite the drafting process for the incident report, said Liang.
Top images via CNA Taiwan & Lawai Arik/Instagram
