A factory electrician survived a fall into a 720°C aluminum tank in St. Gallen, Switzerland. According to local authorities, the accident happened on Wednesday (9). He was rescued with severe and extensive burns and then transported by helicopter to a hospital in the region.
The victim is a 25yearold man who has not yet been identified. St Gallen police said the man fell through an opening while working with hot material over the boiler, German newspaper SWR Aktuell reported.
According to reports from colleagues collected by authorities, the man was immersed in the molten metal with his legs up to his knees but was able to brace himself and climb out of the tank.
He was hospitalized with severe burns. According to local police spokesman Dionys Widmer, the victim has not had to have any limbs amputated so far, but he remains under observation in stable condition. He also informs that the public prosecutor’s office has not yet opened an investigation into the accident.
A 55yearold worker at the factory where the accident happened, in an interview with the Swiss newspaper 20 minutes, says that the aluminum tank must be closed while colleagues work because even stumbling on the factory site would have had consequences . serious. “It’s sad. But the accident can almost only be explained by negligence.”
Investigators continue to collect leads to understand the dynamics of the incident and determine if there was any unsafe behavior or condition at the factory.