NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. — WorkSafeBC says a restaurant worker in New Westminster has died after falling onto a meat slicer.
Safety agency spokesman Scott McCloy says an investigation is underway after the worker's arm was nearly severed.
McCloy says in a statement the worker fell onto the machine on March 22 at the Rivers Reach Pub while it was being serviced.
First aid was administered and the man, who has not been named, was rushed to hospital but McCloy says he could not be revived.
The man, identified as Sanjeev Kainth on a GoFundMe page to raise money for his family, died a few hours later at Royal Columbian Hospital, and was laid to rest at a funeral on Thursday.
The pub’s owner, George Petropavlis, called Sanjeev a colleague and a friend and said staff at the business are still shaken up over his death.
"He was a nice, humble man who loved working here. He was connected with all of us," said Petropavalis.
"We miss him greatly. He was not just an employee but a friend."
The River’s Reach was closed for part of the day Thursday so staff could attend the funeral.
As of Friday morning, the GoFundMe page had already raised more than $13,000.
