Tons of corn covering the ground where a silo at Newport Mills Limited collapsed Monday, killing 33-year-old Edgar Royal. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

It took more than nine hours for workers and health professionals to recover the body of a man who was killed when a silo containing corn collapsed at an affiliate company of Caribbean Broilers, Newport Mills Limited, in Kingston on Monday.

About 3:45 p.m., 33-year-old Edgar Royal was loading a truck in the vicinity of the silo when it collapsed. Mr. Royal was trapped under an estimated 1,000 tonnes of corn. His body was later recovered about 12:50 a.m. yesterday.

Royal was a driver employed to the company's branch in Rio Bueno, Trelawny. However, he came to the Kingston branch to collect corn to transport to the plant in Trelawny.

Keith Amiel, manager of corporate affairs at Caribbean Broilers Group, said the incident was most unfortunate as a technician who saw the silo crumpling attempted to alert Royal.

Did not hear the warning

However, according to Mr. Amiel, the driver was engaged in a conversation on his cellular phone and apparently did not hear the warning.

"Around the equipment can be so noisy. So apparently he went behind one of the machines, where there would be less noise, to speak with the person," he added.

Mr. Amiel said several employees, with assistance from the police, ambulance and fire brigade, tried to find Royal. Eventually two suction pumps, used to clean septic tanks, uncovered his body.

Yesterday the plant remained closed as investigators tried to determine what caused the silo to collapse. Tons of corn also covered the ground inside the plant and a side of the wall surrounding the compound was broken away by the fallen silo.

The incident has also dampened the mood of the other drivers. Yesterday morning the staff members had to be counselled.

"It shake me up man," said one employee.

"That coulda happen to anybody. A life that you know, machine can fix back but not him," said another employee at the company.

The night before, while they searched for Royal's body, his wife, father, daughters and church members conducted a prayer vigil at the plant located off Marcus Garvey Drive.

A few employees described Royal as an assiduous worker who had a good relationship with his coworkers.

"Is (Monday) morning him come, and me and him a run some joke, and then shortly after the thing fell on him," said Yvonne Reid, an employee.