An engineer was crushed to death when a giant rubbish recycling machine he was repairing was turned on by a refuse plant worker.

Mechanic Soner Altun, 26, had climbed into the sorting machine in Ordu, in northern Turkey, after powering it down for the repair, local media reported on 11th April.

But he died in agony when a plant worker turned it back on crushing him to death between its rollers and conveyer belts.

Paramedics rushed to the factory but Soner was declared dead at the scene after his badly crushed corpse was disentangled from the machine.

Soner Altun, 26, poses in undated photo. He died after being caught in waste sorting machine in Ordu, Turkey. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (Newsflash/NX)

Ordu Mayor Mehmet Hilmi Guler shared a message of condolence on social media saying: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our dear colleague Soner Altun, who passed away as a result of a terrible accident.

"We pray for God’s mercy upon him and extend our heartfelt condolences and patience to his family, loved ones, and all our colleagues.

"May his soul rest in peace and his place be in paradise."

Police and prosecutors are investigating his death.

(Clive Goodman / newsX)