Worker rescued from Sanford grain elevator

SANFORD, N.C. (WTVD) -- A man inspecting a grain elevator is recovering at WakeMed after he fell more than 40 feet to the bottom of the shaft.

The independent contractor was trapped for nearly four hours.

"He fell about 40 or 50 feet and one of his feet was trapped under or in an auger," said Sanford Fire Chief Wayne Barber. "We had a small access hole where he was."

Barber said the worker was inspecting the grain elevator when he fell through a chute. The grain elevator was about a third full of dog food granules and the worker was trapped up to his waist.

Crews brought in a leaf-vacuum truck to remove most of the dog food granules from the grain elevator.

"Then once we got the hole large enough so we could vacuum more of it, we were able to get his foot de-tangled," said Barber.

Besides an injured foot, Barber said the worker also suffered other injuries and was also dehydrated. He had to be washed down before being treated.

State OSHA inspectors are investigating the accident.

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lee county, local/state, greg barnes

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