A mine worker in his 70s has been flown to Emerald Hospital in a life-threatening condition following a serious incident at the Crinum mine in Central Queensland on Saturday morning.

Emergency services were called to the Gregory Crinum mine site at approximately 10am after a worker was injured in an incident involving machinery. The worker suffered significant injuries to his chest, face, arm and abdomen, prompting authorities to arrange an emergency rescue helicopter flight to Emerald Hospital for urgent medical treatment.

The incident occurred at the Crinum mine, which forms part of the Gregory Crinum mining complex approximately 60 kilometres northeast of Emerald. The operation includes both the open-cut Gregory mine and the underground Crinum mine and is an important part of the Central Queensland mining industry.

Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics attended the site after the incident was reported. Due to the seriousness of the worker's injuries, a rescue helicopter was called to transport him to hospital. He was subsequently flown to Emerald Hospital, where he remains in a life-threatening condition.

Following the incident, the company operating the site, Sojitz Blue, announced that operations at both the Gregory and Crinum sites had been suspended until further notice. The company said its immediate priority was the injured worker, his family and other employees at the mine.

The Queensland Resources Health and Safety regulator has also been notified. An inspector has been sent to the mine site to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine what happened.

Mine safety investigations are designed to establish the sequence of events, identify contributing factors and determine whether any safety procedures or equipment require further examination. The investigation may also consider the machinery involved and the conditions under which the worker was operating.

The incident has brought renewed attention to safety in Central Queensland's mining industry, where large machinery and heavy industrial equipment are routinely used. Mining operations have strict safety requirements because incidents involving heavy machinery can result in serious injuries.

The Gregory Crinum site has previously experienced a fatal incident. In September 2021, worker Graham Dawson died after part of the roof collapsed in an underground section of the Crinum mine. Three other workers survived that incident.

However, authorities have not indicated that the latest incident is connected to the earlier event. The current investigation will determine the circumstances of Saturday's machinery incident.

For the Emerald community, the incident is significant because Emerald Hospital is providing medical care for the injured worker and the mine is an important employer and economic contributor to the surrounding region.

Operations at the Gregory Crinum sites will remain suspended while the investigation and safety assessment continue. Further information about the worker's condition and the circumstances of the incident may be released as authorities continue their investigation.

At this stage, the priority remains the injured worker's recovery and establishing how the incident occurred.