WorkSafeBC and the BC Coroners Service are investigating a workplace fatality that happened Wednesday afternoon in a field outside of the Wilkinson Road jail. The Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth released a statement saying that a veteran correctional officer lost his life while at work at the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre in Saanich. “Our deepest condolences go out to the family members, friends and workmates of their colleague at this difficult time. This is a very heartbreaking situation and everyone at BC Corrections is feeling the tremendous impact of the loss of one of their one own,” Farnworth said. He added that BC Corrections has been in contact with the Saanich Police Department, WorkSafeBC and the BC Coroners Service, and “will co-operate fully with any and all related investigations.”Earlier Wednesday, a spokesperson from Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General said the death appeared to be a personal medical emergency. According to Trish Chernecki, senior manager of media and government relations with WorkSafeBC, information is very preliminary but said the death was a “serious incident” that happened outside and involved farm machinery. WorkSafeBC officers are now gathering information. It’s being treated as a workplace incident but Chernecki said it is a fluid situation. The man’s identity has not been released.