[bloodrayne]

Elevator Decapitates Teen

Cape Town, South Africa - A holiday job at a store in Cape Town ended in a horrible death for a Hanover Park teenager when he stuck his head out of a half-open freight elevator door to see why it was not working - and it suddenly started moving and crushed his head, decapitating him.

Terrence Stadler, 17, had been working at Shoprite in the Kenilworth shopping centre for only three days when the freak accident happened at 16:30 on Friday.

His brother Taswell, 20, who was also working at the store, said Terrence and four other workers were moving supplies in the freight elevator, when one elevator stopped working.

"Terrence stuck his head out of the lift, which was not completely closed, to see why it wasn't moving. The elevator suddenly shot up and ripped his head open."

"A woman who was in the lift with him, was covered in blood."

"I just heard shouting and screaming, and when I saw the woman covered in blood I knew my brother was dead."

"I drank sugar water for the shock, but couldn't force myself to look at his body," he said.

"He was never rude and always willing to help people," Taswell said.

The victim's mother Belinda and his stepfather, George January, were not available for comment. His brother said they were at the mortuary.

Brian Weyers, marketing director of Shoprite, said in a statement that the incident was being investigated by the police.

Official comment on Stadler's death would follow when the investigation had been concluded. "We extend our sympathy to Terrence's family," Weyers said.