A 71-year-old pastry chef has been killed in a horrific industrial accident after becoming caught in a large dough mixing machine at his workplace in Florida.
Tragic Incident at Kosher Market
The fatal accident occurred in the early hours of Friday morning at the South Florida Kosher Market. The victim has been identified as Mordehay Grunberger, a skilled pastry chef known to friends and family as 'Miki'.
According to police reports, the incident took place at around 4am. However, officers from the North Miami Beach Police Department (NMBPD) did not arrive at the scene until nearly eight hours later, at approximately 11:40am, after receiving reports of an accident within the shop.
Investigation and Official Response
In an official statement, the NMBPD confirmed they are investigating the death. Maria Pinilos, a spokesperson for the department, provided details to local media.
The police stated: "The NMBPD is currently investigating the death of a male at South Florida Kosher Market. At this time, there are no signs of foul play, and the incident was accidental involving an industrial dough mixer."
Authorities have emphasised that they do not suspect any criminal activity. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has also responded to the scene to conduct its own inquiry, which is standard procedure for serious workplace incidents.
A Heartbreaking Tribute
Mr Grunberger's wife, Inna Maor, shared a moving tribute to her husband on Facebook. Her post painted a picture of a deeply loved family man.
She wrote: "Today, my beloved husband Miki, my closest person in my life, my best friend, and father of my two beautiful sons, tragically passed away. I lost myself. I love him so much. He’s the love of my life!"
Mr Grunberger's Facebook biography listed him as a pastry chef at the South Florida Kosher Market, confirming his role at the premises where the tragic accident occurred.
The community and workplace safety regulators are now left grappling with the aftermath of this devastating industrial accident, which highlights the potential dangers of heavy machinery in food preparation environments.
