Farm worker dies in ‘freak accident’ while repairing silo damaged by tornado

DECATUR COUNTY, Ga. ( WALB /Gray News) - A farming accident in Georgia has left one dead, according to officials in Decatur County.

According to Chief Wendell Cofer, of the Decatur County Sheriff's Office, officials were called out to the Rentz Farm Supply on Tuesday morning at around 10 a.m.

A worker was inside a grain silo helping to repair a roof that had been damaged from a tornado when a large metal piece suddenly fell inside.

That worker was pronounced dead at the scene.

"He was a loyal employee, from what I understand, a great employee in just a freak accident," Steve Clark, an investigator with the Decatur County Sheriff's Office, said.

Clark said a company from Cairo was at the farm to replace a grain bin's roof. There were several workers assisting outside the bin while two were helping from the inside.

"He and two other individuals were in the bin. One was on a ladder. The other one was holding the ladder. This individual at that point and time really had nothing to do. He was just in there helping out," Clark said.

The workers were using a beam to support the roof, but that beam came falling down. Investigators said it struck the worker in the head and shoulder.

"When it failed, that fell inside the building and really it's a blessing all three of them weren't hurt," Clark said.

The next of kin is being notified. Clark said he knows the worker and that his loss is impacting, not only his family but also his co-workers.

"I know that company treats their employees and all like family, so I'm sure they're kind of in a bad spot right now," Clark added.

The employer will now have to notify the Occupational Safety and Health Administration since this was a work-related death, but investigators said the incident was purely an accident.