Youghal in Co Cork was in mourning yesterday after a 24-year-old man was killed in a fatal industrial accident, just three weeks after a tragic boating accident in the harbour claimed the life of a local teenager.
Mr Casey Whyte, Seafield Estate, Youghal, died yesterday morning at a garage at Carrigshane, Midleton, when the oil tanker on which he was working suddenly exploded.
The man had just begun work welding an oil tanker at Fitzgerald's Commercials - which specialises in servicing and refitting commercial fuel tanks to trucks and lorries - when it is believed that leaking gas caused the fuel tank on the oil tanker to explode.
A Southern Health Board ambulance, local doctor and Midleton gardaí were immediately called, however, the young man was pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigation was immediately launched into the accident by gardaí and the Health and Safety Authority, with a HSA officer travelling to the scene to examine the site.
The remains of the 24 year-old were transferred to Cork University Hospital, where a post-mortem on the man was due to be carried out last night.
The latest industrial fatality was described by local people as a "horrific blow" to the town of Youghal, and comes three weeks to the day that a local teenager died after his jet-ski collided with a speedboat in the harbour.
"It's a real tragedy, everybody is utterly shocked at the news.
"The Whytes are a lovely family and well known in the community, and to have this happen is just terrible," the mayor of Youghal, Mr Seán Ring said.
"It's truly terrible for the family, their mother only died last February and now this, he said.
"There's a dark cloud over Youghal today," Mr Ring added.