Tennessee man clocks out of work, minutes later the building blows up along with 16 of his co-workers

A man from Tennessee narrowly avoided a fiery death after the factory he worked in went up in a cloud of smoke mere minutes after he had clocked out for the day.

Speaking to a journalist on Tiktok, the employee recounted saying goodbye to his colleagues as he left the building around 7:37 in the morning. At 7:45 am, an explosion occurred inside the building, the results were catastrophic. Aerial footage showed that the entire building had been levelled by the detonation.

Accurate Energetic Systems was a manufacturer of military and demolition explosives that employed many local workers in Hickman County, Tennessee. The deadly explosion ultimately claimed 16 lives according to an article from CNN. Officials have labeled the incident one of the most devastating disasters they have ever encountered.

“As we get into this, we find it even more devastating than what we thought initially,” Humphrey County Sheriff Chris Davis told the outlet.

The worker, who narrowly escaped his fiery fate, described the moment he received the news about the factory explosion. “I thought ‘this is a bad joke’,” he claimed, “I called my third shift supervisor, twice. He’s the only one who didn’t make it off the property that I can acknowledge.”

When asked by the journalist what his feelings were right now, he answered, “Naturally I’m distraught. I said goodbye to a lot of co-workers not knowing it would be my last goodbye.”

He was incredibly lucky to leave when he did

While the employee is likely still processing the horrific disaster he narrowly escaped, people on TikTok were focused on the good news that this man was able to escape unharmed. “Anybody heard of the burnt toast theory?” Asked one viewer, referencing the popular online theory that small inconveniences may be redirecting you towards something better. It’s kind of similar to the butterfly effect. In this case, the decision to leave work when he did protected this man from certain death.

Others suggested the poor guy be given a break, pointing out all the things they’re probably going through right now, “Shock. Lack of sleep. Psychological trauma. Survivors guilt. Unemployed. Possibly losing everything and everyone.” He may have gotten away with his life but he is by no means unscathed by the incident.

“Some of these co-workers had families and friends, some were about to get married and start a better path in their life.” The employee tells his interviewer. The disaster in Hickman County will no doubt have lasting effects on the lives of all who were involved. The investigation into what caused the explosion is still ongoing.