Gursimran Kaur Walmart worker baked to death in oven. Halifax, Nova Scotia police open investigation into the employee’s tragic death as they seek to identify cause and manner of death along with culpability.
Canada authorities have revealed the identity of the Walmart worker who was ‘baked to death’ in a walk in oven after becoming trapped before her ‘charred body’ being discovered by her fellow co-worker mother.
Gurismran Kaur, 19, was working alongside her unnamed mother at the ‘super store’ in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Saturday evening when tragedy struck.
Leading up to the tragedy, mother and daughter worked together at the superstore for the last two years, with Walmart stressing that the ‘oven does not lock.’
A GoFundMe set up to raise money for the 19 year old teen stated that Gursimran’s mother would regularly check in on her daughter while they worked shifts together.
At some point, the parent became worried when she hadn’t seen her teen daughter in the store for an extended period and went searching for her.
Horror awaited the parent when she ended up finding her daughter’s ‘charred remains’ inside the ‘industrial’ bakery oven when another staff member noticed ‘leakage’ coming from the area.
According to the fundraiser, Gursimran’s ‘charred remains were found inside the walk in oven in the Bakery after a few hours.
‘Imagine the horror that her mother experienced who herself opened the oven, when someone pointed out to the ”leakage” from it.’
Gursimran’s phone was ‘unreachable’, which is when her mother began panicking, as it was ‘unusual for her to switch her phone off during the day.’
‘Gursimran’s mother tried to locate her after not seeing for one hour,’ the Maritime Sikh Society Executive said in the appeal, which has already raised $46,000.
‘She asked around, but everyone brushed aside thinking that she may be somewhere helping a customer.’
Gursimran has been remembered as a ‘beautiful girl who came to Canada with big dreams.’
She and her mother arrived in Nova Scotia less than three years ago.
Her father and brother are still in India, and the community are trying to raise funds to get them over to Canada.
‘This family’s sufferings are unimaginable and indescribable. They need your support to get through this horrific time,’ the appeal stated.
Harjit Seyan, president of Canada’s Maritime Sikh Society, told Global News that his community has been supporting the Gursimran’s traumatized family since her death on October 19.
‘The immediate family is absolutely shocked,’ Seyan said.
‘They are in a kind of a trauma. We are really sorry to hear of such a tragic event.’
The tragedy has since raised questions of how Kaur came to be trapped in the on site industrial oven.
A report via CBC News cited store sources saying that the appliance at the Halifax store ‘did not lock.’
The oven was industrial and large enough for a person to step inside.
The Nova Scotia Department of Labour has since issued a ‘stop work order’ for the bakery itself, as well as one piece of Walmart equipment. They have not specified which piece of equipment is under that order.
Police have yet to determine culpability as they continue to investigate the tragedy.
Martin Cromwell, a police officer in Halifax, described the investigation as ‘complex.’
He said: ‘We understand the public is involved, and we just wanted to encourage the public to be patient with our investigation and be mindful that there are family members and coworkers involved.’
To date, Halifax police have indicated working closely with Occupational Health and Safety and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service to determine the cause and manner of death.
‘The investigation is in the early stages no further details are available at this time, Cromwell said.
Of note authorities did not indicate criminality as being a source of the investigation.
Walmart Canada said they were ‘heartbroken and our deepest thoughts are with our associate and their family. We extend our sincerest condolences to those who were closest to them.
‘We’re also supporting our associates during this incredibly difficult time and have provided access to 24/7 virtual care and will provide on-site support, including grief counselling.’
Not immediately clear is whether worker and best labor practises were being adhered to or whether worker error had led to the 19 year old woman’s death.
The store will remain closed until further notice.