Mounted to the wall of Chris Vilness’ office is the harness that was strapped to his son Cailen Vilness’ back during the final moments of his life, a harsh reminder of the tragedy that unfolded on July 12, 2021.
Cailen Vilness s father, Chris Vilness, says he received a call from his ex-wife around 12.30 p.m. Monday, who told him there had been an industrial accident where Cailen worked. Vilness said he immediately flew to the Okanagan from Kitimat in northwestern B.C.
Vilness said he felt something serious might have happened when Cailen didn t answer his phone after the incident.
Cailen â who had worked on the crane for a year â died on his first day back to work after returning from a trip to visit family in Kitimat, where he grew up. He has had a bit of experience assembling that crane, Vilness told CBC s Dominika Lirette. Unfortunately, that was his first day back ⦠made a half of a shift and then was tragically killed.