Workers body melted in half after falling into vat of molten iron

Peoria, Illinois – A 39-year-old worker died after falling into a molten iron vat of 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit molten – leaving half of his body lying on the floor.

NY Post Reports: Steven Dierkes died instantly after he was presumably working alongside a crucible when he fell in, according to Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood.

Harwood said the Thursday incident – which took place at the Caterpillar Mapleton Foundry – was accidental and no foul play is suspected, the Peoria Journal Star reports.

Deputies were called to the facility around 10 a.m. on Thursday morning in regards to an “occupational accident,” Peoria County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Chris Watkins said.

A veteran Caterpillar worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS), that Dierkes “was taking a sample of iron for the met lab and apparently just tripped.”

The unidentified worker explained: “He died instantly, but not all of him went in. Part of his body remained on the deck for the coroner to retrieve.

“It must have been ghastly for those folks that witnessed it and to wait for the coroner with half of their coworker lying on the floor.”

The worker, called Ron to protect his identity claims “the death occurred on one of the large melters in the main foundry melting area.”

Ron was unable to report on the conditions of the foundry melting area.

“I don’t know what time it happened but by 10:20 a.m. the entire facility was sent home,” the worker said.

Another employee claimed on social media that Dierkes had “only been there for five days” and didn’t have “sufficient training” to be on the iron floor, according to WSWS.

An obituary for Dierkes, via PJ Star, notes the worker passed away at 9:23 a.m. from a “workplace accident.”