Kerry Foods confirms fatality at Burton site

16-Feb-2012 - Last updated on 16-Feb-2012 at 15:37 GMT

A 50-year-old man suffered a heart attack at Kerry's meat processing factory in Burton, Staffordshire

Irish chilled foods manufacturer Kerry Foods has confirmed the death of a worker at its Staffordshire factory after a man suffered a heart attack in the early hours of Valentine’s Day.

Kerry revealed that 50-year-old Stuart Hill suffered a heart attack while working the night-shift at the firm’s Mosley Street meat processing factory in Burton, after falling ill at around 1.25am on Tuesday, February 14.

Frank Hayes, director of corporate affairs, told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “Regrettably, we can confirm that a man in his early 50s passed away on the morning of Valentine’s Day.”

Paramedics

“Mr Hill arrived for work and appeared to be in good spirits but was then taken ill. Colleagues immediately called the emergency services and our on-site paramedics also rushed to the scene. But unfortunately Mr Hill was pronounced dead on arrival at Burton’s Queen's Hospital.”

West Midlands Ambulance Service, which arrived at the scene shortly after Hill was taken ill, confirmed that he had suffered a cardiac arrest.

Hill received treatment en route to the hospital but the ambulance crew were unable to save him.

A spokeswoman said: “West Midlands Ambulance Service received a 999 call to Kerry Foods on Mosley Street, Burton, at around 1.30am on Tuesday 14th February. An ambulance and a rapid response vehicle were at the scene within three minutes of the 999 call being made. On arrival crews found a man in cardiac arrest and immediately commenced advanced life support.

“The man, who was in a critical condition, was taken to Queen's Hospital by land ambulance on blue lights; the rapid response paramedic travelled with the patient to continue vital emergency treatment on route to hospital.”

Staffordshire Police

The death was not being treated as suspicious, according to Staffordshire Police. A spokeswoman told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “Police were called shortly before 3am following the death of a man in his 50s at his place of work.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious and we are currently preparing a file for the coroner.”

Kerry also revealed that Hill had been employed by the firm since 2010 and lived in the Burton area.

Hayes added: “He appeared to be in good health but was suddenly taken ill. It is a tragic situation for his family.”