Factory worker tragically dies after being trapped in industrial oven

A Missouri factory worker named Nicolas Lopez Gomez, 38, died after getting trapped inside an industrial oven used to make cereal for Walmart at the Gilster Marylee Cereal Plant in Perryville. The incident occurred while he was cleaning the oven on Thursday around 3pm. It is unclear how he ended up inside the oven, but authorities do not suspect foul play. Despite efforts to save him, Gomez was pronounced dead less than 20 minutes after first responders arrived at the scene.

The coroner's office is collaborating with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to investigate the tragic event. The Gilster Marylee factory is a major supplier to retailers like Walmart, Sam's Club, and Albertsons. This incident follows a similar tragedy where a teen working at a Canadian Walmart died inside a walk-in oven.

Eight months ago, Gursimran Kaur was found dead inside a bakery oven at a Walmart store in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her charred remains were discovered by her mother. The store was closed for renovations following the incident, and Walmart confirmed the removal of the oven after receiving approval to reopen.

Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation, the company operating the plant where Gomez died, has been in operation for 125 years with multiple locations across Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas.