JENNINGS COUNTY, IN — The Letts and Westport fire departments, along with a wastewater truck from the City of Greensburg, assisted in a successful grain bin rescue on East County Road 1220 North in northeastern Jennings County on Monday.
Units arriving at the scene found a farmer engulfed in grain up to his mouth, with only his face and the top of his head visible.
Further complicating the rescue operation was a large area of rotten grain bridged two feet above the farmer.
Rescuers were able to remove the grain near the man, and he was placed in a harness and safely moved out of the bin an hour and 15 minutes after the first crews arrived.
He walked away from the scene but ended up going by private vehicle to the hospital to be evaluated as a precaution.
Firefighters are calling it one of the most complex rescues they’ve been involved in.
This was the second successful grain bin rescue in the area in recent weeks.
Decatur County farmer Jerry Weber was freed after becoming in a grain bin on County Road 400 South.
The following agencies were involved in the rescue: the Jennings and Decatur County Dispatch centers, the Letts and Westport fire departments, the Campbell Township and Spencer Township fire departments (Jennings County), the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office, Rescue 20 (Jennings County), and the City of Greensburg Wastewater Department (which brought in a vacuum truck).
The Statfight medical helicopter was on standby at the scene but its victim transport services were not needed.
