75-year-old Winthrop man dies after being buried under corn in grain bin

Star Tribune

Last update: November 3, 2009 - 9:32 PM

A 75-year-old man became buried under corn in a grain bin and died, authorities in Sibley County said Tuesday.

The body of Jerry Wannarka of Winthrop, Minn., was found by emergency personnel about 3:30 Monday afternoon inside the bin at his residence, the County Sheriff's Office said.

In a matter of a few seconds, according to farm safety experts, a person standing in a grain bin can be helplessly trapped as the grain begins to flow. A person can be completely engulfed in the grain in about 25 seconds. Death from suffocation most often results.

PAUL WALSH

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