TECO has confirmed a 5th person has died from an industrial accident last month.

BRACE employee Armando Perez died from life-threatening injuries sustained during the incident at Tampa Electric's Big Bend power plant on June 29.

Four other people have died so far as a result from the accident. One other person remains hospitalized.

TECO officials said the accident was caused by spillage from a slag tank at the Big Bend power plant just before 4:30 p.m. Thursday, June 29.

The tank is located at the bottom of one of the power plant stacks. A slag is basically what's left over from producing power from coal.

"What happens is you burn coal and those burned bits of coal fall into this slag tank which contains water," said TECO spokesperson Cherie Jacobs. "It cools off those pieces and it makes them crystallize."

Routine maintenance on the slag tank was being conducted when the accident happened.

Two people died at the scene--Christopher Irvin and a longtime TECO employee. Four others were hospitalized.

Since the accident, three others have died--Frank Lee Jones, Antonio Navarrete, and Armando Perez.

BRACE Industrial Group sent out a statement on the passing of Perez saying, "Our heartfelt prayers and sympathy are extended to his family and friends as we keep our primary focus on supporting our employees and their families during this difficult time."

A GoFundMe account has been created for Armando Perez and one for Antonio Navarrete.

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