An investigation is underway after a 19-year-old lady was discovered lifeless inside a walk-in bakery oven in a Walmart in Canada.
On Saturday, Oct. 19, at round 9:30 p.m. native time, Halifax Regional Police have been “known as to a sudden loss of life at Walmart positioned at 6990 Mumford Street,” in keeping with a Monday, Oct. 21, news release.
“A 19-year-old lady employed on the retailer was discovered deceased,” the discharge confirmed.
Police added that investigators have been “working intently with Occupational Well being and Security and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service to find out the trigger and method of loss of life.”
In a further update posted on Tuesday, Oct. 22, police mentioned the lady had been “positioned in a big walk-in oven belonging to the shop’s bakery division.”
Authorities mentioned within the launch that an investigation was nonetheless ongoing and that it could be “advanced” and contain “a number of accomplice businesses.”
“An investigation of this nature might take a major period of time,” police mentioned, urging the general public “to be conscious of sharing speculative info on social media.”
“Please concentrate on the impacts that hypothesis may have on household, colleagues and family members of the lady,” the discharge concluded.
Constable Martin Cromwell advised reporters of the investigation on Monday, in keeping with CBC: “We simply wish to encourage the general public to be affected person with our investigation and be conscious that there’s relations and associates concerned.”
Cromwell had no further info to share when contacted by PEOPLE.
In keeping with CTV News, Walmart spokesperson Amanda Moss mentioned workers have been “heartbroken” in a press release on Sunday.
The message added, “Our deepest ideas are with our affiliate and their household. We prolong our sincerest condolences to those that have been closest to them,” per the outlet.
“We’re additionally supporting our associates throughout this extremely tough time and have supplied entry to 24/7 digital care and can present on-site assist, together with grief counseling,” the assertion concluded.
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Moss advised The Canadian Press in an e mail that the shop was quickly closed following the tragic incident.
The spokesperson declined to remark about whether or not “the lady was on shift when she died,” the information company acknowledged.
Novia Scotia’s Division of Labour, Abilities and Immigration mentioned in a press release to PEOPLE: “We prolong sympathies to the worker’s household at this extremely tough time.”
“We are able to verify a cease work order was issued October 22 for the bakery and one piece of kit at Walmart at 6990 Mumford Street, Halifax,” the assertion added.
“As that is an energetic investigation, we can’t launch additional particulars right now. Please notice, office investigations are advanced and might take time,” the message concluded.
Satnam Singh Randhawa, chair of the Maritime Sikh Society board, confirmed the lady was a member of the Sikh group, in keeping with CBC.
“It is fairly distressing, you understand, younger folks come right here with every kind of hopes and desires they usually’re working onerous after which that is what occurs,” Randhawa mentioned, per the outlet.
Walmart Canada and the Maritime Sikh Society board didn’t instantly reply when contacted by PEOPLE for additional info.