Man Dies in Freak Accident at Meat Factory After Falling Into Ice Crusher While Covering for Coworker

A man in Brazil is dead after a tragic accident at the meat processing plant where he worked.

Diego Fernando Gonzaga died after he fell into an ice-crushing machine at the HG Foods meat processing plant, according to Brazilian outlet G1. Despite being tangled in the equipment, Gonzaga could reportedly communicate while waiting for first responders. The Fire Department was called to the plant around 8 a.m. on Monday, October 26, and began working with the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU) to free the man.

Rescuers used hydraulic equipment to try to quickly dismantle the ice-crushing machine that Gonzaga was trapped in. Sadly, as they were working to free him, Gonzaga suffered cardiac arrest. Once he was freed from the machine, rescuers attempted to resuscitate him to no avail.

Gonzaga was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tragically, Gonzaga’s cousin revealed that he did not typically work in the refrigerated section of the plant, according to The U.S. Sun. On the day of the accident, he had been asked to cover for a coworker in that section rather than the packaging department he was used to.

The outlet reported that the plant processes many food products but is specifically known for sausage and chicken. His mother, Maria de Fatima, reportedly issued a statement expressing that her “heart is shattered.”

“You receive the news that your child leaves home alive and healthy to go to work, and then you find out he is gone. It is very sad,” she reportedly said.

“Your child is trapped in a machine, a machine is swallowing your child, and you cannot get him out,” she added. “You need firefighters and the SAMU, and they still cannot get him out.”