One worker was killed, and two more were injured while trying to rescue him from an accident inside a large vat inside an ink plant in Sydney's west.

Emergency services arrived before 9:00 AM at DIC Australia on Chisholm Road in Auburn to rescue the three men.  They had been involved in cleaning the ink vat, reportedly five to eight meters tall, when the first man became trapped.  The other two rushed in to try to rescue him, but became trapped as well.

The rescue was hampered by the ink slush at the bottom, as well as a mixing blade.  It took more than two hours to extricate them

"It makes it quite difficult to access the patients," said NSW Ambulance Superintendent Paul Turner, as quoted by Fairfax Media, "Because you're in a really dirty environment, obviously that hampered efforts."

Two men were taken to Westmead Hospital with leg injuries and fractures, each was reportedly in a stable condition.  But the first man to be trapped didn't make it.

"When someone deteriorates clinically it's always hard for all emergency workers," said Mr. Turner.  "They build rapport with the patient.  To have him deteriorate and lose his life can be quite distressing."

NSW Police and WorkSafe NSW will be investigating the incident.