Abroad

US man dies after jumping headfirst into deep fryer at Olive Garden in apparent suicide

He was taken to hospital, but passed away later.

clock

February 08, 2026, 04:11 PM

Telegram

Whatsapp

Warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide. Audience discretion is advised.

A U.S. man has died after jumping headfirst into a restaurant's deep fryer, with several colleagues and a patron injured while trying to save him.

Vat of hot oil

The Mirror reported that the incident happened in a franchise of the Italian-American restaurant chain Olive Garden, in the U.S. town of Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

The man apparently stripped naked in the Olive Garden’s kitchen before diving headfirst into a vat of hot oil.

The man was taken to the hospital, where he eventually died from his injuries.

Several staff were injured in the incident as they attempted to rescue him from the deep fryer, with at least one female employee sustaining some minor burns.

A customer in the restaurant also attempted to help prevent the man from further injuring himself.

Grim

Local emergency medical services and state police have categorised the incident as a suicide attempt, and have said they will not release further information because of that.

Audio recordings of calls made to emergency services were described as “grim” and harrowing.

Initially, dispatchers simply said that “a male victim went headfirst into the fryers”, according to the New York Post.

Another operator told emergency services that there were "a lot of people screaming, some kind of burn victim".

The Post reported that the restaurant closed for several days after the incident occurred on Jan. 30, but has since reopened.

Helplines

If you or someone you know is in mental distress, here are some hotlines you can call to seek help, advice, or just a listening ear:

National mindline.sg Hotline: 1771 (24 hours)

National mindline.sg WhatsApp: 66691771 (24 hours)

SOS 24-hour Hotline: 1-767

Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019

Centre for Domestic Employees: 1800 225 5233 (24 hours)

Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training: 1800 339 4357 (24 hours)

HOME: 1800 797 7977 or +65 9787 3122 (WhatsApp / Viber / SMS)

Top image via Google Maps

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram to get the latest updates.

  • image
  • image
  • image
  • image

MORE STORIES

Events