Chef dies after plunging head into deep fryer at Olive Garden restaurant in America Troy de RuyterPerthNowWed, 11 February 2026 2:16PMWARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
A cook has suffered a gruesome death after plunging his head into a deep fryer.
Police said the man removed his clothes before co-workers desperately tried to stop him.
The horrifying incident happened at the Olive Garden in Williamsport in the US state of Pennsylvania on January 30.
Frightening emergency operator traffic captured the chaos inside the restaurant.
“A male victim went head-first into the … fryers,” one dispatcher can be heard saying.
Another reported: “I don’t have a lot of details … lot of people screaming, some kind of a burn victim.”
The chef, whose details have not been released, was taken to hospital with critical burns but died in the “apparent suicide”, authorities said.
A female worker was also treated for minor burns after she, several co-workers and a least one customer struggled with the chef to stop him from thrusting himself in the fryer again.
Darden Restaurants, the parent company of Olive Garden, expressed its condolences.
“We are heartbroken by this tragic loss,” it said.
“Our primary focus is on supporting our team members and the family of our colleague during this incredibly difficult time.
“We are cooperating fully with local authorities.”
The restaurant was closed for several days after the incident. It has since reopened.
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