Foundation Food Group.

nitrogen leak

Survivors of the nitrogen leak at a Georgia poultry plant this week are describing their dangerous escape.

The incident occurred at the Foundation Food Group poultry processing plant in Gainesville, Georgia, on Thursday,PEOPLE previously reported, and resulted in the death of six employees. Another dozen were hospitalized.

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office released the identities of the workers who died on Friday. The victims ranged in age from 28 to 45.

Those who died include Jose DeJesus Elias-Cabrera, 45; Corey Alan Murphy, 35; Nelly Perez-Rafael, 28; Saulo Suarez-Bernal, 41; Victor Vellez, 38; and Edgar Vera-Garcia, 28, ABC News reported Friday.

nitrogen leak

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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“First we just thought there was something wrong with the freezer, then they started saying get out,” he told the outlet. “I just saw the fog and when I couldn’t see down the steps, I turned around. But I didn’t feel anything.”

“It was kind of quick. Everybody was pushing everybody,” they said.

Emergency vehicles outside the Foundation Food Group plant.ERIK S LESSER/Shutterstock

nitrogen leak

“Foundation Food Group takes workplace safety very seriously, and works constantly to adopt and implement the most effective safety programs available to the industry,” Ancrum said in the statement. “Until this investigation is completed, we cannot say with confidence precisely how this accident occurred.”

The cause of the leak has not yet been determined.

source: people.com