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Man rescued from grain silo, taken to hospital

The Abbotsford Fire Department has freed a man who was trapped 100 feet down in a grain silo at Ritchie Smith Feeds.
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Abbotsford fire Rescue Service is on scene at Ritchie Smith Feeds as a man is reportedly trapped


A man has been rescued after being trapped 70 feet down inside a grain silo.

Abbotsford Fire Rescue Services were called out to Ritchie Smith Feed,located at 33777 Enterprise Ave., on Monday morning after an employee apparently got tangled up in his harness and some wire while working in the silo.

Assistant Fire Chief Dave Rivett said  the man was conscious and alert, but it still took several hours to assess the situation and perform a rope rescue.

“Our tech rescue team got to the fellow trapped in the silo. He was trapped approximately 70 feet down inside the silo amongst some wires that are used to take out all the excess grain,” said Rivett.

The man was in an “uncomfortable position” and was complaining of back pain.

Once freed from the silo, he was takes by ambulance to Abbotsford Regional Hospital.

There is no update on his condition, but injuries are not thought to be serious.

Rivett said it was a challenging rescue.

“It’s always difficult to go into a confined space for  rescue. It’s always difficult when you have to haul somebody up from that distance.”



Kevin Mills

About the Author: Kevin Mills

I have been a member of the media for the past 34 years and became editor of the Mission Record in February of 2015.
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