A tragic incident occurred in Taipei’s Wenshan District when a 69-year-old restaurant employee, Ms Liu, was found dead inside a walk-in freezer on Tuesday morning, February 24, after being missing for over 12 hours, according to ETtoday.
Ms Liu, who had worked at the restaurant for nearly 30 years, reportedly left home Monday evening around 9pm, telling her family she was visiting a friend. Instead, she used her work keys to enter the restaurant. CCTV footage captured her entering the establishment and heading toward the walk-in freezer, which operates at temperatures below -10°C.
The following morning, restaurant staff found the freezer door locked and unable to open. After calling a locksmith, they discovered Ms Liu’s body near the door. Emergency responders transported her to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Preliminary investigations indicate that hypothermia was the likely cause of death. Police reported no signs of external injury or foul play.
Family members noted that Ms Liu had been feeling “low in spirits” recently. She had her mobile phone with her but did not attempt to call for help while trapped. Authorities are continuing to investigate whether her entry into the freezer was accidental or intentional. The restaurant’s management has yet to release a statement regarding the incident.
