Sudden death at Vale's Sudbury smelter
Sudbury police and the Ministry of Labour are investigating a sudden death at Vale's smelter in the Greater Sudbury community of Copper Cliff.
Police received a call shortly after 2 p.m. on Tuesday about a fatality at the local mine.
"Information provided was that a 54-year-old man was found unconscious with no vital signs," Kaitlyn Dunn, a spokesperson for Greater Sudbury Police Service said in an email to CTV News. "Individuals on scene began life-saving measures which were taken over by City of Greater Sudbury paramedics when they arrived on scene. Unfortunately, the man was pronounced deceased on scene."
Officials with Vale said the man was working for an external contractor at the Fluid Bed Roaster Baghouse of the Matte Processing facility.
CTV's Alana Everson reports the man was involved in work being done on a baghouse, a confined vessel used to collect dust while processing nickel at the smelter. Sources say he was found unresponsive in a rest area outside of a building.
An autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause of death, which is unknown at this time.
The name of the contractor is being withheld out of respect for the family.
"Our thoughts are with the family, co-workers and friends of this individual," said Dino Otranto, chief operating officer of Vale’s North Atlantic operations, in a statement Tuesday evening. "We are doing everything we can to support them and to better understand what happened during this incident."
Vale is offering services of its Critical Incident Stress Management Team to the employees and contractors who were working in the area, as well as the Vale employees that responded to the scene.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Backlog of airline complaints balloons by 6,395 since December travel chaos: Canadian Transportation Agency
The fallout from the December travel chaos continues, as the backlog of complaints made to the Canadian Transportation Agency keeps growing. As of Jan. 31, there have been 6,395 new complaints made to the agency since Dec. 21.

'Legitimately flabbergasting': MP raises concerns over government's quarantine hotel spending
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner is raising concerns over the federal government's spending on so-called COVID-19 quarantine hotels, calling the total spent on a Calgary-area hotel in 2022 'legitimately flabbergasting.'
Man spends 24 hours in Toronto Denny's after losing bet, raises almost $6K for charity
At first, Juan Delgado agreed to spend 24 hours inside a Dundas St. Denny’s as a consequence of losing in his fantasy football league.
Discovery in Canadian lab could help laptop, phone and car batteries last longer
A chance discovery in a Canadian laboratory could help extend the life of laptop, phone and electric car batteries.
Is working from home or the office better? Some Canadians weigh in
News that she'd be headed back to the office was very welcoming for English instructor Kathy Andvaag, after more than two years teaching from her “dark” and “cold” basement.
Looking to travel this spring? Here are some cost-saving tips
With the spring break travel season approaching, those looking to flee the cold, wet Canadian snow for sunnier skies will likely be met with a hefty price tag for their getaway, with inflation and increased demand pushing costs up.
Jeopardy! dedicates entire category to Ontario but one question stumps every contestant
Jeopardy! turned the spotlight on Ontario on Monday night with a category entirely dedicated to the province. One question stumped every contestant.
Loblaw ends No Name price freeze, vows 'flat' pricing 'wherever possible'
Loblaw will not be extending its price freeze on No Name brand products, but vows to keep the yellow label product-pricing flat 'wherever possible.'
Woman detained in Syria says Ottawa is forcing her to make agonizing choice in order to get her kids to Canada
A woman held in a detention camp in Syria, along with her three Canadian children, says the federal government is forcing her to make an agonizing choice: relinquish custody of her kids so they can be repatriated to Canada, or keep them in the camp where the conditions are dire. Her children are eligible for repatriation but she is not a Canadian citizen.