Note: In order to increase awareness for the Mike Biadasz farm safety and education memorial fund, we are republishing this story. Visit their website here and Facebook page here to learn more.
A “deadly dome of air” erupted in the manure holding tank of a Wisconsin farm, resulting in the freak accident deaths of the farmer and sixteen of his cattle.
Michael Biadasz, a 29-year-old farmer from Amherst, Wisconsin, perished from gas poisoning on his family’s farm after being overpowered by vapors of sulfur oxide or methane, according to WAOW. Thirteen of the farm’s animals also perished at first, and three more died subsequently, for a total of sixteen cattle deaths.
The catastrophe, according to the 29-year-old’s father Bob Biadasz, co-owner of Biadasz Farms, was caused by a “perfect storm” of peculiar and unforeseen weather circumstances. Warm upper air temperatures confined the gasses in a dome of air when the tank was ready to be pumped, poisoning Michael and the animals in the process.
It was alleged that when other laborers showed up to start removing manure from the tank, Biadasz was already dead.
Portage County Coroner Scott Rifleman told WAOW, “The family is devastated, absolutely devastated.”
Rifleman told WSAW that the incidence is even more unexpected because gas poisoning deaths usually happen in closed spaces. The coroner stated that the gasses could not escape due to air pressure.
The coroner continued by saying that an inquiry is being conducted to ascertain the precise reason of Biadasz’s demise. Before the tragic event, Rifleman claimed that Biadasz had safely emptied the same tank hundreds of times.
In remembrance of Michael, the Biadasz family parked a row of tractors and other equipment along the road that goes near the farm. A blue tractor, multiple red trucks, and Michael’s black pickup truck are among the parked cars.
One Facebook user commented on the article, saying, “As if there isn’t already enough danger in the lives of farmers, this family had to suffer this freak accident.” “So sad.”
Many people are advocating for stricter rules to be imposed on manure storage tanks in the wake of the unfortunate disaster in order to avoid another one of this kind happening in the future. The National Agriculture Safety Database, according to All That’s News, states that areas used for livestock storage ought to have adequate ventilation and that adjacent warning signs need to be erected.
“In addition to adhering to proper construction and maintenance procedures for liquid manure storage facilities, owners should be encouraged to follow a few precautionary measures to protect both workers and livestock from harmful manure gases,” according to the NASD.
According to WASW, a Virginia family met a similar tragic end in 2007 when a pipe obstruction resulted in a deadly methane gas buildup, killing five of the family members.
