BRITAIN’S biggest Amazon depot has been plunged into mourning after a worker died during a “medical episode” there.
The staff member died outside the warehouse in Tilbury, Essex, yesterday while the processing centre was closed.
It is understood he had arrived early to wait in his car ahead of his shift for personal reasons.
Counselling is being offered at the site to those affected by the tragedy, which wasn’t a workplace accident or suspicious.
Amazon’s two million square foot fulfilment centre in Tilbury is its biggest European depot and employs around 4,000 workers.
The online retail firm, founded by Jeff Bezos, are the world’s richest company, valued at £730billion.
An East Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We received a call at 8.10am yesterday with reports of a person who was unwell in Winchelsea Road, Tilbury.
“We sent one ambulance, however the person sadly died at the scene.”
A police spokesman said: “We were called just before 8.30am on Sunday 7 November by ambulance colleagues to Dock Road, Tilbury, following a man taking ill.
“Sadly, the man died. His death is not being treated as suspicious.”
It comes after a former worker claimed Amazon warehouse staff are so exhausted they fall asleep in the loos.
Michael Gabay, 42, told The Mirror he endured “100 days of hell” at the Tilbury depot.
Speaking in 2019, he claimed staff fall ill from exhaustion and “walk around like zombies” during 10-hour shifts with limited breaks.
Workers at the site pack packing 250,000 items during the night shift.
One woman claimed that when she was six months pregnant she was told off for not hitting packing targets of 120 items an hour.
She claimed another pregnant woman who fell ill was refused an ambulance, adding: “They called her a taxi after taking her to the first aider.”
Mr Gabay said: “Why are people treated like this? [Amazon boss] Jeff Bezos is the richest man in the world and this is how his company is run.”
Amazon said: “We do not recognise these allegations as an accurate portrayal of activities in our building.
“Tilbury fulfilment centre is a safe and positive workplace. Safety is our No1 priority and we take the wellbeing of our associates extremely seriously.
“We will always call an ambulance if one is required. Our team of on-site first-aiders follow NHS guidance when an ambulance should be called.”
