A contract worker died Friday at Upper Peninsula Power Company's Hoist Dam in Negaunee Township. (Photo courtesy of UPPCO)

NEGAUNEE – A contractor died Friday morning while working at the Upper Peninsula Power Company’s Hoist Dam in Negaunee Township, authorities said.

The Marquette County Sheriff’s Office Technical Rescue Unit 131 was dispatched about 11 a.m. for a confined rescue inside a penstock of UPPCO’s Hoist Powerhouse, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

“A contractor had to be extricated from inside the penstock and was later pronounced dead at the scene,” the release states.

Two contractors were working to apply a coating inside the penstock when it is believed their air monitors alerted them conditions were unsafe and the two workers headed to the access

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