A young forklift driver killed in a tragic workplace accident has been remembered as a hardworking son who dreamed of building a better life for his family.

Thanh Dat, a 25-year-old Vietnamese man, became trapped beneath the forklift at a business on Powdrill Rd in Prestons, southwest Sydney, about 5.40am last Friday.

Emergency services arrived to find him pinned under the heavy machinery.

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today

Despite the efforts of paramedics, he died at the scene from critical injuries.

Dat’s heartbroken family said he was taken “far too soon”, leaving a deep pain in the hearts of all who knew him.

Described as a young man “full of dreams”, Dat moved to Australia in the hope of creating a better future for his loved ones back home in Vietnam.

“He was living and working in Australia as a forklift driver, always showing dedication, kindness, and a smile that could brighten anyone’s day,” the family said in a GoFundMe post as they seek to return his ashes to Vietnam to say their final goodbyes and lay him to rest with love and dignity.

“Thanh Dat’s life, though far too short, touched many with kindness, laughter, and love. Together, let us carry him home,” the post read.

Community voices on safety risks

The incident shocked nearby residents.

“I was shocked when I came down the street,” nearby resident Michael Hobbs told 7NEWS.

“But it’s something that’s always in the back of your mind. Crossing the road with forklifts and unloading on the streets … it’s not just them, it’s others on the street too.

“It’s difficult to get up and down the road at times.”

Another nearby resident, Carlo Sannio, said he regularly saw forklifts and trucks being loaded on the road.

Peter Mycian, an experienced forklift driver at the same site, told 7NEWS that forklifts are often driven between two factories on either side of the road, but he had never seen any issues.

“I’ve never seen any incidents, any problems, any cars getting in the way. They’re pretty good — they always watch out for everybody,” he said.

He acknowledged forklifts can be dangerous if not used properly.

“They’re machines — they can definitely be dangerous — but if you know how to operate one and you’ve got your licence, which I do, I don’t see that they’re a dangerous piece of equipment.

“It’s my best friend because it saves all the heavy lifting. So, they are definitely a good piece of equipment but they can be dangerous as well if not operated properly.”