Russian mother 'boiled alive' by hot caramel in freak accident

A factory worker in Russia recently lost her life in a freak accident while cleaning a huge tank.

According to UK media, Natalia Nemets is believed to have been "boiled alive" at the confectionery factory.

Molten caramel had suddenly gushed into the tank that Nemets, 36, was cleaning, said The Daily Mail.

There was no known reason for this occurence.

The body was discovered when fellow colleagues saw Nemets' legs hanging out of the tank filled with hot caramel.

Her colleagues had noticed she was missing when she wasn't at her usual work space in the factory, said Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda.

The mother-of-one reportedly did not make any sound as the accident took place.

A witness told Evening Standard: "She did not cry, no other noise was heard. She was cleaning the mixer when the caramel suddenly began to flow into the bowl."

Investigators said Nemets might have fainted and fallen into the tank due to the room's high temperature or she could have lost her footing.

Russian reports claimed that the factory tried to cover up the tragedy by threatening workers' jobs for speaking out, Evening Standard said. It is allegedly the third death at the factory this year, the report added.

Nemets leaves behind her husband and son Ivan, 10.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg