Update: Elevator employee rescued from silo

• Pinned in a Grain Bin

Crews try to extract a man who is pinned in a grain bin.

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10:24 a.m. Update

FARMINGTON - After nearly eight hours of confinement, Feely Elevator manager Mark Malecha was rescued from the corn silo where he became trapped before noon Thursday.

Malecha was pulled to safety at approximately 7:30 p.m. Thursday, after having spent the day trapped in a 45- 50-foot deep silo at the Farmington elevator. He fell into the silo at approximately 11:20 a.m.

Malecha became trapped as a semi truck was being filled with corn this morning. He apparently went into the silo to try to loosen a clog. The corn below him shifted, and covered Malecha to his chest, pinning him against the structure’s south wall.

The elevator is across the street from Farmington City Hall, and the truck driver ran across the street and asked city employee Rob Boerboom to call 911. Emergency personnel were on the scene within minutes.

According to police chief Brian Lindquist, Farmington police, firefighters and ALF/Allina ambulance crews were the first to arrive. At first, Farmington fire/rescue personnel scaled the side of the silo, entering through the trap door on top. Finding that Malecha was about eight to 10 feet from the bottom of the silo, local rescue workers determined they would need help.

The Dakota County Special Operations Team was called. Farmington fire chief Tim Pietsch said the SOT has specific training in situations where the surroundings may collapse on a victim. In this case, that meant keeping the corn, which sloped up toward the north side of the silo, from shifting more and completely burying Malecha.

As an added precaution, Farmington fire marshal John Powers notified the railroad company of the situation and asked that all rail travel through downtown Farmington be suspended until the rescue attempt was complete. Powers said rescuers worried the vibrations from a passing train could cause the corn to shift more and suffocate Malecha.

A lot of patience

It was an afternoon of hurry-up and wait, as more and more fire departments and special operations teams arrived in the parking lot of city hall. Additional special operations teams arrived from Minneapolis and Edina. By late afternoon, a plan was set in motion.

That plan included cutting two holes into the silo — one at the top, directly above Malecha, to lower rescue personnel and supplies into the corn; the second on the south side of the silo so firefighters could dump buckets of corn out as they scooped it from around Malecha’s body.

Medics were lowered into the silo to check on Malecha. The report was he was alive, conscious and calm.

Before the corn could be dumped out, though, SOT members built a kind of plywood box around Malecha. Sending boards in one by one, emergency personnel inside the silo were able to gradually barricade Malecha from the outside corn.

Once that was in place, they set to scooping out the corn. By late afternoon, the corn had been lowered to Malecha’s waist.

As soon as rescue workers were confident they could safely pull Malecha out, a body harness was attached. With Farmington firefighters working the ropes below, Malecha was slowly, carefully pulled through the opening at the top of the silo.

Covered with corn dust and wearing an oxygen tank on his back and an air mask on his face, Malecha was lowered to the ground around 7:30 p.m. While suspended in air, he moved his hands and feet.

Meanwhile, a number of his family members had gathered next to the waiting ambulance. Malecha was placed on a gurney and wheeled to the ambulance.

Before being placed inside, he gave the surrounding crowd a simple thumbs up. A few onlookers started to clap and cheer.

In a press conference afterward there was a doctor on board the ambulance, waiting to administer immediate care en route. A preliminary exam later at Hennepin County Medical Center revealed no broken bones or other serious injuries.

Lindquist also praised the cooperation of all of those who worked throughout the day. He thanked the many businesses that contributed food and beverages for the emergency personnel.

Malecha has been the manager at Feely Elevator since November, 2006.

8:30 p.m. Update

FARMINGTON - After eight hours of working in the cold and snows rescue workers used a rope and pulley to pull a Feely Elevator employee from the corn silo where he had spent much of the day trapped.

The man, elevator manager Mark Malecha, had gone into the silo to move the corn around 11:30 a.m. when he was trapped. He was in the process of emptying the silo at the time.

"When he was in there the corn shifted on him and pinned him up against what would be the south side of the grain bin," police chief Brian Lindquist said.

Lindquist said he could hear the man tapping on the wall of the silo when he arrived.

When rescue crews arrived Malecha was buried in corn up to his chest. There was concern, because the corn sloped up to the north wall of the silo, that shifting corn might slide down and bury him. Trains on the nearby railroad tracks were stopped for fear the vibration would cause the corn to shift further.

The access hatch in the top of the silo was too far away from where the Malecha was trapped so a hole was cut in the top of the silo and an emergency room medic was lowered into the bin. Before moving the victim, rescue workers built a plywood barricade so the corn wouldn't shift and bury him further. Using plastic buckets they dug the corn from around Malecha, pushing the barricades farther down as they worked to keep corn from spilling back in. A second hole cut in the side of the silo allowed rescue workers to dump the corn without pulling it to the top of the silo.

Finally, shortly after 7:30, firefighters started pulling on a rope connected by a series of pulleys to Malecha. They lifted him slowly out of the silo, then lowered him gently to the ground. He was taken quickly to a waiting ambulance. Malecha, who was alert and conscious throughout, gave the gathered crowd a thumbs up before he was placed into the ambulance.

Farmington police and firefighters were the first on the scene. Various other agencies have have joined in the effort to extract the man including Rosemount Fire Department, Hastings Fire Department and Dakota County Special Operations.

3:30 p.m. Update

FARMINGTON - Rescue crews are trying to save a man who has been pinned by corn in a silo at Feely's Elevator. The man, an employee of the elevator, was clearing something in the bin about 11:30 a.m. when the corn shifted and trapped the man against the south wall of the structure.

Police chief Brian Lindquist said he could hear the man tapping on the wall of the silo when he arrived.

Rescue crews on scene report the man has corn up to his chest. He is alive and conscious. There is concern, though, because the corn slopes up to the north wall of the silo.

A hole has been cut in the top of the silo and an emergency room medic has been lowered into the bin. Before moving the victim, rescue workers will build a plywood barricade so the corn won't shift and bury him further. Trains have been stopped to prevent any vibrations which could cause the corn to shift.

It could be several hours still before the man is pulled from the silo.

Farmington police and firefighters were the first on the scene. Various other agencies have have joined in the effort to extract the man including Rosemount Fire Department, Hastings Fire Department and Dakota County Special Operations.

Original Post

FARMINGTON - Rescue crews are trying to save a man who fell into a corn silo at Feelys Elevator.

Rescue crews on scene report the man is alive and in good condition. He is located near the bottom of the silo.

According to rescue personnel they are going to cut a hole into the structure to try and get the grain out from around him.

Farmington police and fire fighters were the first on the scene. ALF Ambulance, the Lakeville Fire Department and Dakota County Sheriff's Department have joined in the effort to extract the man, who is believed to be an employee of the elevator.

Tags: state and region, grain silo, agriculture, farming, accidents, news