A Kenosha County man who was stuck in a 20-foot-tall silo was saved by firefighters using specialized rappelling equipment to reach to him.
According to the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, on Friday morning a 65-year-old man in the town of Paris was inspecting an auger inside the silo when he got stuck in the soybeans stored there. The sheriff’s office said the silo was about one-third full.
After multiple tries, the man was able to get a phone signal. He called a family member, who dialed 911.
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The sheriff’s office said the man was trapped up to his neck and shoulders. Emergency responders constructed an emergency wall around him, then vacuumed out the soybeans before placing a harness on the man. He was trapped for about two hours.
Grain entrapments are often deadly for farmers. Last year there were 34 cases nationwide, 14 of which were fatal, according to data compiled by researchers at Purdue University.
They happen when the grain in silos gives way underneath a person’s foot, which is a risk especially when an auger is moving the grain. The person’s weight on top of the grain can create a quicksand-like effect that can engulf and potentially suffocate the person.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a 6-foot tall person can be entrapped after only 5 seconds and can be covered with grain in 11 seconds.
The sheriff’s office said the man was extracted at about 9:45 a.m. Friday. He had only minor injuries and is “doing well” following the rescue.
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