Garnett, KS – A rapid multi-agency response saved a man’s life Tuesday morning after he became trapped in a grain cart west of Garnett in rural Anderson County.
According to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, the 911 call came in at 11:35 a.m. Deputies, EMS, and Garnett Rescue crews were dispatched within minutes. When deputies entered the grain cart at 11:45 a.m., they recognized the patient was suffering a life-threatening emergency and applied a tourniquet to stop severe bleeding.
By 11:48 a.m., an Anderson County EMS director and an advanced life support ambulance were on scene, followed shortly by Garnett Rescue with additional equipment. Crews coordinated an extrication plan, and by 11:56 a.m. the patient was freed.
EMS transported the man to the Anderson County Hospital helipad, where he was stabilized before being flown to a Kansas City Level 1 Trauma Center. The patient arrived just one hour and 26 minutes after the original 911 call.
Officials credited quick teamwork for the outcome. “This incident highlights the importance of rapid and accurate information flow,” said Chelsey D’Albini, communications center director. Sheriff Wes McClain called it “true teamwork,” praising deputies, EMS, and rescue personnel for saving a life.
Anderson County EMS Director Troy Armstrong added that the decision to apply a tourniquet within minutes was lifesaving.
According to national data, patients in rural areas are 50% more likely to die from traumatic injuries due to delays in reaching advanced care. Authorities said Tuesday’s rescue underscores the importance of regional trauma systems and interagency coordination.
