Here's a story for Springsteen's next ballad: A roofer in New Jersey took a dangerous dive into a vat of acid to save a coworker who had just fallen through a roof into the tank 40 feet below.


Immediately after the first guy tumbled through the top of the Swepco Tube plant, his hero buddy jumped to follow him into the container, where a solution comprised of 40 to 70 percent nitric acid awaited him. He stood waist-high in the liquid as he and three other men pulled their peer to safety. The victim was completely submerged in acid. He's suffered burns from head to toe; his state is unknown, but other employees said they don't think it's enough to kill him. His savior also sustained burns from the waist down, and is in serious condition. Neither man has been identified, and OSHA is investigating.

Interestingly enough, the steam and mist from the vat of acid was the reason the roof needed to be repaired in the first place. [NorthJersey.com via Gothamist]


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