Man fatally crushed in NSW opal mine

A man has been crushed to death by a steel bucket that fell on top of him while inside a NSW opal mine, police say.

Police said the 52-year-old was making repairs to a hoist at the Grawin Opal Fields at Lightning Ridge, near the Queensland border, on Friday when he was killed.

A work colleague called paramedics, but they were unable to revive him.

Police, SafeWork NSW and the Mines Department are investigating.