(CUBA, Ky.)-A 68-year-old Cuba farmer was successfully rescued Tuesday morning after becoming trapped in a grain bin filled with soybeans, thanks to specialized rescue equipment donated to local fire departments just two years ago.
Will Bell was working inside a grain bin on his farm along Elmos Road when shifting soybeans trapped him around 10:20 AM on August 13. Fellow farmers initially attempted to free Bell but were unable to do so safely, prompting a 911 call to Kentucky State Police Dispatch at Post 1.
Multiple emergency response teams rushed to the scene, including crews from the Cuba Fire Department, Mayfield Fire Department, Mayfield/Graves County EMS, Mayfield/Graves County Fire and Rescue, and the Sheriff’s Office.
Cuba firefighters arrived within 10 to 15 minutes and deployed a Turtle Tub Grain Bin Rescue System to extract Bell from the soybeans. Working together, Cuba and Mayfield firefighters freed Bell at 11:27 AM, ending his nearly two-hour ordeal. He was transported to a local hospital by Mayfield/Graves County EMS for observation and treatment.
The rescue highlighted the importance of specialized equipment donated in 2023. The Graves County Farm Bureau, working alongside local agricultural businesses and farmers, provided eight Turtle Tub Grain Bin Rescue Systems to volunteer fire departments throughout Graves County and the Mayfield/Graves County Fire and Rescue Squad. Prior to this donation, such life-saving equipment was scarce in the area.
The Sheriff’s Office praised the Cuba and Mayfield Fire Departments for their rapid response and professional expertise in saving Bell’s life, calling their efforts a testament to the value of community investment in emergency preparedness.
Grain bin entrapments are among the most dangerous agricultural accidents, often proving fatal when specialized rescue equipment isn’t immediately available. Tuesday’s successful rescue demonstrates how community partnerships can directly save lives when emergencies strike.
PHOTO COURTESY: Turtle Tub, Kentucky Farm Bureau