TOWN OF OREGON, Wis. --
A farmer from the Town of Oregon is recovering at a local hospital after being rescued from a 60-foot-high silo on Thursday.
First-responders were called to a farm on County Road D in the Town of Oregon after 7 p.m. on Thursday. After an hour and 15 minutes of harrowing work, rescue crews pulled Wayne Ace out of the silo. Several emergency vehicles were at the scene, including those from the Madison Fire Department and a tactical rescue team.
Ace was about half way up inside the 60-foot silo so rescuers had to rappel down to where he was. He was rescued through an opening not much bigger than a square foot and a half, WISC-TV reported.
Emergency workers found him to be fatigued and said that he had inhaled fibers from the silage inside.
A MedFlight was on site, but Ace was transported by ambulance to the hospital. The hospital confirmed that Ace is in good condition, WISC-TV reported.
Ace had gone inside the silo to level out the silage, which was something his family members cautioned him against, firefighters said.
Capt. Robin Powers of the Oregon Fire Department & EMS said that fast-action by Ace's family members might have saved his life.
"It's my understanding that family members actually discovered the patient," he said. "Had they not been as alert and keeping track of what was going on with him, he could have been there for an extended period of time and could have expired."
Two family members also went inside the silo once Ace was stuck to assist firefighters. They weren't injured but were taken to a hospital to be checked out.
Firefighters said that inside the silo, the silage itself can create toxic gases as it decomposes and, in addition, getting in or out has to be done through very small spaces.
Ace, who is the owner of the Wayne Ace Farm and a member of Town of Oregon Board of Supervisors, is currently recovering at Meriter Hospital.
Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.
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