Pig kills slaughterhouse worker in Hong Kong, police say

HONG KONG (TND) — A pig set to be butchered at a Hong Kong slaughterhouse apparently got the better of its would-be killer, resulting in the death of the 61-year-old worker.

Police told local news that around noon on Jan. 20, a pig at the Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse knocked down a man surnamed "Cai," causing the worker to cut his foot with the sharp knife he was wielding.

Cai was reportedly slaughtering pigs at the time and used a prod to electrically shock the pig, who instantly attacked him in response.

The pig butcher fell unconscious after being knocked to the ground, police said, adding that he was bleeding profusely from the apparently accidental knife wound.

Police say that another worker found the knocked-out Cai and called authorities. Cai was then reportedly taken to the hospital where he later died.

The case of Cai's death has been classified as a "fatal work accident" according to Hong Kong’s Labor Department, but authorities have also reportedly launched follow-up investigations.

The Labour Department is saddened by the death of the person and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family," Hong Kong's Labor Department told CNN.

We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures," the Labor Department reportedly added. "We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."

Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, which oversees slaughterhouses in the city, said it was " very concerned about the work accident" and was also "saddened by the death of a staff member of its outsourced contractor in the accident" in a statement.

The department expressed its deepest condolences to the deceased's family and has requested the contractor to provide all necessary assistance to his family,"Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said.

The location where Cai was killed "is not the main slaughtering production line" of theSheung Shui Slaughterhouse according toHong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.

Also, the slaughterhouse's service "remains normal" despite the workplace fatality, and the "supply of fresh meat is not affected" according to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's statement.