TORONTO — A 37-year-old man is in life-threatening condition after being encased in hot tar that solidified during an industrial accident in Toronto on Monday morning.
Rescuers worked for more than a hour to free the man after the incident, which occurred around 7:30 a.m., according to Toronto Fire platoon chief Dave Denysek.
He says the man was in a truck when liquid tar spilled from a reservoir in the back of the vehicle, trapping the man.
"When (the tar) came out of the reservoir it went all around and when tar is exposed to the air, it hardened very quickly," Denysek told reporters at the scene.
He said firefighters had to slice away part of the truck before slowly cutting hardened tar in small pieces away from the man's body.
"The victim suffered serious burns to his head and arms," said Toronto Paramedic Services Dep. Commander Evert Steenge.
He said the man was rushed to the burn unit of a local trauma centre.
Police said the man was breathing and conscious throughout the ordeal.
