Worker feared being “cooked alive” in eReco blast

October 18, 2011

Staff member recounts his narrow escape from the blast that tore his building apart.

A worker caught in the huge explosion at UK cartridge recycler eReco told the East Grinstead Courier & Observer he feels lucky to be alive after narrowly escaping the blast.

The 22-year-old, who wished to remained anonymous, told the paper he thought he was going to be “cooked alive like a chicken” as the explosion tore through the building on 3 October.

The man, who was one of eight staff injured in the incident suffered burns to his head and hands when the explosion swept over his head as he sorted through printer cartridges.

“I was picking printer cartridges up and putting them on the conveyor belt,” he explained to the Courier & Observer.

“I was lifting one up when I felt like a fireball had hit my head. It completely melted my mask that I was wearing.”

The man said he managed to flee the building as the roof began to collapse and one of the walls had been destroyed.

“My first thought was just to get out of there,” he said. My worst fear was being trapped in there and being cooked alive like a chicken.”

Another worker, named as Nigel Burns, is reportedly still hospitalized with serious burns following the explosion, but is believed to be stable and recovering.

eReco, which collects and recycles cartridges for OEMs among other operations, resumed work at its other units on the industrial estate last week.

The cause of the explosion is being investigated.