This story has been updated.
A Medina man was rescued after getting trapped in a grain silo Tuesday, April 28 on Hamilton Road.
Authorities were contacted by an unknown caller at 2:12 p.m. about the man, who was found buried up to his chest in corn inside the bin, alert and responsive, according to a social media post from the Medina Fire Department
The Medina County All-Hazards Team’s rope and confined space rescue specialists were immediately dispatched.
When a person becomes partially trapped in grain such as corn or beans, they can’t move due to the weight of those grains, according to the Medina Fire Department.
“One thing that makes this rescue difficult is that as you dig the corn away, it just fills back in,” Medina Fire Chief Larry Walters said. “So you have to assemble a grain sleeve, or tube, around the victim so that as you remove the corn, it can’t get back in.”
The first arriving crew from Engine 2 entered the bin through a side door; crew members were able to secure the victim with a rescue sling to prevent him from being engulfed any deeper. At the same time, paramedics began early treatment.
Rope and confined space rescue team members arrived and assisted the Engine 2 crew with assembling a grain rescue sleeve around the victim, which allows the corn to be removed, according to the social media post. After removing the corn to a level below his waist, rescuers were able to free the victim.
The man was placed him in a Stokes basket and safely removed from the bin. He was transferred to an awaiting medical helicopter crew for transport to a trauma center. The man has since been released from the hospital.
No other injuries to civilians or responders were injured
Walters said that this type of incident is thankfully not common.
“We would call this a low frequency, high-risk rescue,” he said.
The Medina Fire Department was joined by several other entities in the rescue, including the Medina Life Support Team, Medina County All-Hazards Rescue Team, Brunswick Hills firefighters, the Medina Township police department, Medina County Sheriff’s Office, Cleveland Clinic Critical Care Air Medical, incident command support from Hinckley Ohio Fire and Rescue, Lafayette Township Fire Department, Sharon Township Firefighter’s Association, and Medina County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Man trapped in grain silo rescued in Medina
Reporting by April Helms, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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