Ex-heavyweight boxing champion David Bey died at a New Jersey construction site last week. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the 60-year-old man was hit by a flying fragment of metal at a Camden real estate development project. Unfortunately, he didn’t survive the incident.
A union representative from Local 179 of the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters described Bey as a “second generation pile driver,” and said that Bey had worked in the business for 37 years. According to the union’s communications director, the ex-boxer was always a gentleman and very kind. They also said he was a devout man of God and he liked to listen to scriptures.
During his boxing career, Bey had the nickname “Hand Grenade.” His boxing career began in the U.S. Army. In 1981, he debuted as a professional boxer. In 1984, he defeated Greg Page for the heavyweight championship. In 1985, Larry Holmes defeated Bey with a technical knockout following ten rounds in the International Boxing Federation’s title match. He retired from boxing in 1994.
Just this year, Bey received the honor of being the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame. He accepted the honor with his union brothers in attendance.
The details of the workplace accident that took the man’s life are still unknown; however, OSHA is currently investigating what series of events led to this athletes’ construction death. Regardless of the results of the OSHA investigation, the fact remains that his man died while performing his job. As such, his dependent family members may be able to pursue workers’ compensation death benefits in the wake of his loss.
Source: The Star, “Former boxer David Bey killed in construction accident,” Sep. 21, 2017