Man rescued from peanut silo in Suffolk

SUFFOLK Rescue workers spent about 90 minutes this morning freeing a man who fell into a silo about one-third full of peanuts.

Two Birdsong Peanuts workers were checking the level of peanuts when one fell into the storage tank, city spokeswoman Debbie George said. Firefighters received the report just after 9 a.m.

The silo, in the 300 block of Factory St., is about 50 feet tall, George said.

A co-worker stood on a platform inside the silo and held a line connected to the trapped man to keep him from sinking deeper, said Battalion Chief Ted Adams, of the Suffolk Department of Fire & Rescue. Vibrations from passing tractor-trailers threatened to disturb the peanuts.

“He was submerged under the peanuts,” Adams said. “When we got to the top, we couldn’t see him.”

Firefighters were able to communicate with the man. Fearing he would suffocate, they passed him a self-contained breathing apparatus, the same equipment used when fighting fires, Adams said.

Technical rescue experts from the Virginia Beach Fire Department were at the scene assisting, George said.

The worker – who has not yet been identified – was connected to another line and lifted out of the silo about 10:30 a.m. He climbed down the ladder on his own and refused treatment.

Birdsong representatives declined to speak with reporters at the scene.

“They are very grateful for the outcome,” George said. “They will be conducting an investigation, but they do not want to speak at this time.”

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