The recent fatal Nexen explosion at the Long Lake facility killed one of the two workers involved, and the second worker Dave Williams fought hard for over a week in an Edmonton burn unit before also passing away from the injuries that he sustained during the explosion. This brings the death toll for the event to 2. Williams, who was 30 at the time of his death, passed away last Monday at the burn unit in the University of Alberta Hospital where he was admitted shortly after the explosion on January 15, 2016. Kelly MacEachran, who is Williams’ cousin, spoke about the death of his family member and told the media “He always has a smile on his face and he’s the nicest guy you’d ever meet. He’s a hard worker and just loves life.”

Dave Williams and Drew Foster, the other worker who died as a result of the fatal Nexen explosion, were in the hydrocracker unit changing valves when the explosion occurred. The hydrocracker is equipment which combines partially upgraded bitumen with hydrogen so that sulphur is removed and synthetic crude oil is produced. Drew Foster was killed during the explosion but Dave Williams survived the initial explosion and the injuries that he sustained. Williams was transported to NLRHC with 3^rd degree burns that were severe, and then later transported to the Alberta burn unit. A GoFundMe page has been started to help the families of both men. After the fatal Nexen explosion the facility has been shut down until further notice and the investigation into the accident is continuing.