Rope on 84-year-old farmer’s waist saves his life as he’s buried in corn bin, cops say
A small precaution saved a farmer’s life, keeping him from being completely swallowed by corn inside a grain silo, Nebraska authorities said.
Authorities responded shortly after 7 p.m. Sept. 8 to a 911 call about a farmer trapped in a corn bin, according to a news release from the Stanton County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies found the 84-year-old “trapped in corn up to his neck,” the sheriff’s office said.
The farmer had tied a rope around his waist, which kept him from being completely submerged, according to authorities.
Rescue shields and a large grain vacuum were used to stabilize and remove the corn around the victim, authorities said.
A boom truck was then used to hoist the farmer out of the bin and back on the ground, according to the sheriff’s office.
The man was taken to a local hospital for treatment, authorities said.
“This was a true team effort that led to a successful conclusion of a very dangerous farm accident that often has a darker outcome,” Sheriff Mike Unger said in the release.
Moving grain can act like quicksand and bury a person in seconds, leading to suffocation, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Stanton is about a 110-mile drive northwest from Omaha.
This story was originally published September 11, 2024 at 2:10 PM with the headline "Rope on 84-year-old farmer’s waist saves his life as he’s buried in corn bin, cops say."
