A second person has died as a result of a trench collapse in Ballarat yesterday.
The two men were laying pipes at a worksite near the Glenelg Highway in the Ballarat suburb of Delacombe when the trench collapsed about 11:15am on Wednesday, police said.
One man was killed instantly, and another man was buried from the waist down in the trench, which was more than five metres deep.
Heavy machinery was brought in to widen the trench to rescue the man, who was taken to hospital, but he died on Thursday.
"A 21-year-old Ballarat East man has died in hospital today following an incident in Delacombe yesterday," a police spokeswoman said in a statement.
"A 34-year-old Broomfield man died at the scene yesterday."
The older man was completely buried when the trench collapsed, and emergency crews discovered his body while rescuing the younger man.
The younger man, Jack Brownlee, died in the Royal Melbourne Hospital this morning, despite undergoing four surgeries.
"On behalf of Dave, Janine, Mitch, family and friends, we have the unfortunate task of announcing our son, brother and best mate Jackie Boy has passed away," Mr Brownlee's family said in a statement.
"We would like to thank the efforts of the amazing team at the Royal Melbourne Hospital for their care, compassion and efforts over the past 24 hours," the statement said.
"We the family know that what could be done was done to get our boy back up and running.
"Rest In Peace Jacky Boy Brownlee ... you will never ever be forgotten mate."
WorkSafe is investigating the incident and police will prepare reports for the coroner, the police spokeswoman said.
