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US worker dies in chocolate vat | US worker dies in chocolate vat |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A man has died after falling into a vat of hot chocolate at a factory in the US state of New Jersey. | A man has died after falling into a vat of hot chocolate at a factory in the US state of New Jersey. |
Vincent Smith Jr, 29, was emptying pieces of solid chocolate into the melting vat when he slipped from a platform into the 2.5m (8ft) deep unit. | Vincent Smith Jr, 29, was emptying pieces of solid chocolate into the melting vat when he slipped from a platform into the 2.5m (8ft) deep unit. |
A spokesman for the local prosecutor's office said Mr Smith appeared to have died instantly from a blow to his head by a paddle mixing the chocolate. | A spokesman for the local prosecutor's office said Mr Smith appeared to have died instantly from a blow to his head by a paddle mixing the chocolate. |
His colleagues at the factory tried to shut down the mixer, but were too late. | His colleagues at the factory tried to shut down the mixer, but were too late. |
Mr Smith was a temporary worker at the Cocoa Services Inc plant in the city of Camden. | Mr Smith was a temporary worker at the Cocoa Services Inc plant in the city of Camden. |
'Need answers' | 'Need answers' |
Jason Laughlin, from the local county prosecutor's office, said: "There are paddles, called agitators, that are moving inside this vat. He was hit by one of them before someone could hit the shut-off valve." | Jason Laughlin, from the local county prosecutor's office, said: "There are paddles, called agitators, that are moving inside this vat. He was hit by one of them before someone could hit the shut-off valve." |
Investigators said the chocolate had reached 49C (120F). It was being melted in the factory before being shipped out to other companies to make into chocolate bars and other sweets. | Investigators said the chocolate had reached 49C (120F). It was being melted in the factory before being shipped out to other companies to make into chocolate bars and other sweets. |
Mr Smith had been in the vat for about ten minutes before rescue crews arrived. | Mr Smith had been in the vat for about ten minutes before rescue crews arrived. |
Thombe Smith, told journalists: "We just really need to know what happened to my cousin. We just need some answers." | Thombe Smith, told journalists: "We just really need to know what happened to my cousin. We just need some answers." |
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, part of the US Department of Labor, is investigating the accident. |