9/14/2017

"Man died after falling into deep fryer at  Lake City Publix"

Amanda C. Coyne  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Posted 9-14-2017

Tragedy struck during the height of the business day at the grocery store in southern Lake City Thursday. Mansur Blount was a vent hood technician. Part of his job was to clean vent hoods at client businesses, including a Publix location on Duval St. A Publix spokeswoman said it is the company’s policy not to comment on such extreme accidents before authorities have concluded investigation, but witness accounts describe that the vents were above a deep fryer filled with hot cooking oil, and the fryer was covered with a “thin metal cover". One witness stated "seemed like (Blount) wasn't aware of the hazard”, being unfamiliar with the store.

Blount was standing with his left leg on the cover while he cleaned the vent. Suddenly, the fryer cover gave way and Blount fell into the deep fryer on his left side, the initial report says. Blount suffered severe burns and was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, first to the emergency room and later to the burn unit.

Blount died later that night while hospitalized at Grady. He was 37. His death was caused by the burns, doctors says.