Emergency crews raced to a farm south of Granville Monday afternoon after reports of a man who had collapsed and was trapped in a grain bin. Around 2:18 PM, the Granville Fire Department and PC EMS responded to 950 North Avenue, where a man was found trapped in soybeans up to his chest inside a grain bin. The individual told first responders he had entered the bin searching for another person reportedly missing. Multiple fire departments, technical rescue teams, and two Life Flight helicopters were dispatched as crews worked to assess if a second person was inside.
Emergency crews worked tirelessly at a grain bin incident, successfully rescuing one individual with the aid of specialized equipment, including a grain bin rescue tube, auger, and rescue vacuum. The survivor was assisted from the bin and airlifted to Peoria for further medical evaluation around 3:52 PM. Details on his condition have not been released. After his rescue, efforts transitioned to a recovery operation for a second individual, who was located near the bottom of the bin around 4:45 PM. Tragically, the second subject was pronounced deceased and turned over to the coroner. “Our sympathies go out to the family of the deceased.”
All responding personnel were unharmed and cleared from the scene by 5:44 PM. The Granville Hennepin Fire District extends appreciation to all who assisted, including the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, telecommunicators, and local businesses such as Granville Casey’s and The Corner Store, which provided food and drinks for responders. An investigation into the incident will be conducted by the Putnam County Death Investigator.
“We thank all the responders that came to assist the Granville Hennepin Fire District for their hard work and efforts in the response. Thank you to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the telecommunicators for all their hard work and effort in assisting us with the operation. And thank you as well as to Granville Casey’s for donating pizza and The Corner Store in Granville for donating coffee for the responders.”