Medina Firefighters Rescue Man Trapped Chest-Deep in Grain Bin

A specialized rescue sleeve and a multi-agency response saved a man trapped under hundreds of pounds of corn at a Medina Township farm.

A Medina Township man is recovering after firefighters and rescue specialists worked to free him from a grain bin where he was buried up to his chest in corn Tuesday afternoon.

The Medina Fire Department responded at approximately 2:12 p.m. April 28 to a report of a male trapped inside a grain bin. Because of the technical complexity of grain bin rescues, crews immediately requested the Rope and Confined Space Rescue disciplines from the Medina County All-Hazards Team.

Why Grain Is So Dangerous

Rescuers arrived to find the man alert and conscious, buried chest-deep in corn. Grain bin entrapments are particularly hazardous because the weight of surrounding grain presses against the victim with tremendous force. Attempts to simply dig or scoop grain away from a trapped person are ineffective — the material flows back in almost immediately.

The first crew on scene, from Engine 2, entered through a side door and secured the victim with a rescue sling to prevent him from sinking deeper. Paramedics from LST Medic 1 began medical treatment at the same time.

Specialized Equipment Made the Difference

When the All-Hazards Team arrived, members worked alongside the Engine 2 crew to assemble a Grain Rescue Sleeve around the victim. The device creates a barrier that allows corn to be safely removed without it collapsing back in. Once grain was cleared to below the man's waist, rescuers placed him in a Stokes basket and removed him from the bin.

A medical helicopter crew transported him to a trauma center. He has since been released from the hospital. No injuries to civilians or other responders were reported.

A Multi-Agency Effort

The Medina Fire Department credited a large group of agencies with making the rescue possible, including the Medina Life Support Team, Medina County All-Hazards Rescue Team, Brunswick Hills Firefighters, Medina Township Police Department, Medina County Sheriff's Office, and Cleveland Clinic Critical Care Air Medical. Incident command support came from Hinckley Ohio Fire and Rescue, Lafayette Township Fire Department, Sharon Township Firefighter's Association, and the Medina County Emergency Management Agency.

Photo credit: Medina Fire Department Facebook page.

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Frequently Asked Questions

At about 2:12 p.m., Medina Fire Department responded to a report of a man trapped chest-deep in corn inside a grain bin. Crews from Engine 2 entered through a side door, secured him with a rescue sling, and worked with the Medina County All-Hazards Team to assemble a Grain Rescue Sleeve, clear corn to below his waist, and lift him out in a Stokes basket. He was flown to a trauma center and has since been released from the hospital.

The weight of surrounding grain presses against a victim with tremendous force, and simply digging or scooping the grain away does not work because it flows back in almost immediately. That is why rescuers used a Grain Rescue Sleeve to create a barrier and safely remove corn without it collapsing back onto the victim.

The Medina Fire Department credited the Medina Life Support Team, Medina County All-Hazards Rescue Team, Brunswick Hills Firefighters, Medina Township Police Department, Medina County Sheriff's Office, and Cleveland Clinic Critical Care Air Medical. Incident command support came from Hinckley Ohio Fire and Rescue, Lafayette Township Fire Department, Sharon Township Firefighter's Association, and the Medina County Emergency Management Agency.

It is a specialized confined-space rescue device assembled around a person trapped in grain. The sleeve forms a rigid barrier so rescuers can remove grain from inside it without the surrounding material flowing back onto the victim, allowing safe extraction.