News

Tragedy on dairy farm in west central Minnesota

Toxic fumes have claimed the lives of two brothers on a dairy farm in west-central Minnesota.

Officials say 47-year old Curt Boesl was on top of a grain silo near Millerville Saturday with his 12-year old son Alex when they were overcome by fumes from fermenting silage.

Curt’s brother Steven, who was 49, climbed the silo trying to help but inhaled too much nitrogen dioxide and was pronounced dead by first responders.

Curt Boesl passed away Sunday morning.  A GoFundMe page set up for the family says Alex is fighting for his life at a hospital in the Twin Cities.

Minnesota Milk executive director Lucas Sjostrum tells Brownfield the fermentation of green material that makes up silage produces nitrogen dioxide, which can be lethal within seconds of breathing it in a heavy concentration.

He says carbon dioxide is also produced, which is not toxic but can reduce the amount of available oxygen, causing people to gasp for air.

Sjostrum recommends using a breathing apparatus when entering silos, but says even under the best precautions things can go wrong.

Add Comment

Your email address will not be published.


 

Stay Up to Date

Subscribe for our newsletter today and receive relevant news straight to your inbox!