A father and his daughter died in a workplace incident on a day that was supposed to be filled with celebration, as their family marked a special anniversary.
Mihai Chinez, 49, and his 24-year-old daughter, Denisa Mihaela Chinez, died on Sept. 28 at Banagher Precast Concrete, where they had worked for years.
Irish police said a man in his 50s and a woman in her 20s were pronounced dead at the scene. The exact circumstances of the incident have not been publicly disclosed, and Ireland’s Health and Safety Authority has been notified.
What makes the tragedy even more heartbreaking is that the day was Mihai’s 26th wedding anniversary with his wife, Angela. During a morning break, Mihai, Denisa, Angela and Denisa’s fiancé, Liviu, sat together in the workplace canteen.
According to their parish priest, the family talked and laughed, and Mihai said they would get a cake after work to celebrate the anniversary. His mother was also celebrating her 87th birthday that day.
But the plans never happened.
About an hour later, Mihai and Denisa were dead. Their priest later described the father and daughter as having a particularly close bond. They walked to work together and worked side by side, preparing concrete molds at the facility.
Denisa was remembered at her funeral as cheerful and warm-hearted, while Mihai was described as a hardworking father, loving husband and loyal colleague.
Denisa was laid to rest following the funeral Mass. Mihai’s cremation is scheduled for later, with his ashes to eventually be interred alongside his daughter.