At 7:03 p.m. on Sunday, the Stanton County Sheriff’s office received a 911 call of farmer trapped in a corn bin about five miles northwest of Stanton off 563rd Avenue.
The first Sheriff’s unit was on scene in less than five minutes and found the 84-year-old victim trapped in corn up to his neck.
Additional first responders including Stanton Fire and Rescue and Norfolk Fire and Rescue arrived later.
Fortunately the farmer had tied himself off with a rope around his waist and that stopped him from going completely under the unstable corn as his rope tightened.
Efforts were then undertaken to stabilize the corn around him using grain bin rescue shields and two fireman entered the grain bin while tethered to safety lines as other first responders used a large grain vacuum to suck corn from around the victim.
After nearly an hour of these efforts, the farmer was rescued and removed from inside of the bin. A boom truck that was requested from Stanton County Public Power was used to assist and lifted the victim from the top of the bin to the ground.
He was evaluated at the scene by EMS and a Life Net helicopter crew who had also responded. He was then taken by ground ambulance to FRHS in Norfolk for an evaluation and treatment.
“This was a true team effort that led to a successful conclusion of a very dangerous farm accident that often has a darker outcome”, said Sheriff Mike Unger.
Stanton County Emergency Management and several area neighbors also responded and assisted at the scene.
