A hotel chef broke down in tears as he recounted the "truly terrifying" moment a migrant stared down staff for hours in a tense standoff that preceded the death of a colleague.
The emotional testimony came during court proceedings where the chef described the chilling atmosphere that unfolded at the hotel, comparing the experience to "going to war."
The Night That Changed Everything
According to the chef's gripping account, the situation escalated when a migrant guest began exhibiting intimidating behaviour towards hotel employees. "It was like going to night," the chef told the jury, his voice cracking with emotion as he recalled the fear that gripped the staff.
The standoff continued for several hours, with staff members feeling increasingly threatened and unsafe in their workplace. The chef described how the migrant maintained an intense, unwavering stare at employees, creating what he called a "really scary moment" that left permanent psychological scars.
A Workplace Transformed Into a Battlefield
"The atmosphere was unlike anything we'd experienced before," the chef testified. "What should have been a normal working environment suddenly felt like a battlefield, with tension so thick you could almost touch it."
The testimony painted a vivid picture of the psychological toll such incidents take on hospitality workers, who often face challenging situations without adequate protection or support.
The Aftermath and Ongoing Trauma
The harrowing events culminated in the discovery of a dead colleague, though the chef's testimony didn't specify the exact connection between the standoff and the death. What emerged clearly was the profound impact on surviving staff members.
Many continue to struggle with the trauma of that night, with some potentially facing long-term psychological consequences from what they witnessed and experienced.
The case continues to unfold in court, shedding light on the broader issues of workplace safety and the challenges faced by hospitality workers in dealing with volatile situations.
