A dad was killed instantly after he tripped and fell into a vat of 1,500C molten iron in a tragic workplace accident.
Steven Dierkes was 'split in half' with part of his body left lying on the factory floor in front of horrified colleagues at the Caterpillar Mapleton Foundry in Illinois last Thursday.
Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood was quoted in the Peoria Journal Star saying that no foul play was suspected in the 39-year-old's death.
The father-of-three was taking a sample form the container of 2,600F (1,427C) iron when he stumbled and fell in, the Mirror reports.
Speaking to the Sun, Caterpillar spokeswoman Lisa Miller said: "We are deeply saddened by the death of an employee who was involved in a serious incident at our Mapleton, Illinois, facility on June 2.
"Our thoughts are with this employee’s family, friends and colleagues.
"The safety of our employees, contractors and visitors is our top priority."
Peoria County Sheriff's Office Capt Chris Watkins said that deputies were called to the scene at around 10am on Thursday June 2 to respond to an "occupational accident".
Peoria County Coroner's office, the Sheriff's Office and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are still investigating the tragedy.
An anonymous veteran Caterpillar worker, speaking to the World Socialist Web Site, said Dierkes "was taking a sample of iron for the met lab and apparently just tripped".
They said: "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 co-worker lying on the floor."
They claimed the incident occurred in the main foundry melting area, adding that by 10.20am all employees had been sent home.
An obituary for Dierkes remembers him as "a hard-working teddy bear of a man with calloused hands and a tender heart" who "would have done anything for anyone".
He leaves behind three daughters and partner Jessica Sutter, with his death coming just six months after another worker, 50-year-old Scott M Adam, died after falling at the same factory.
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