‘Turtle Tube’ device helps in grain bin rescue in Kentucky

GRAVES COUNTY, Ky.(KBSI) – Have you ever heard of a turtle tube? Graves County Rescue Squad and farmers are calling it a ‘life saver’ quite literally.

 According to the Graves County Sheriff on the morning of August 13, 2025 they were dispatched to a farm area in Graves County for a report of a man stuck inside a grain bin. Graves County Fire Department, Sheriffs Office, Cuba Fire Department and the Graves County Rescue Squad all arrive the man was inside the bin for about two how’s before they could get him out. 

Keith Lowry, is also a Kentucky farmer and  President Lowry Farms Inc. He says the farmer was his neighbor and he’s thankful that that this was a successful rescue. 

“The grain, surrounded him, got around him, got up to about his chest. And, fortunately for the rescue squads and, local fire departments, they had, what they call a turtle cube.” 

Graves County Sheriff Jon Hayden says this doesn’t happen often but it does happen and they’ve lost several farmers because of it. 

“Now, a few years ago, we did have a very similar situation that happened here in Graves County. And an individual was inside of a grain bin and, trying to basically bust loose some, some grain, you know, that was stuck. It collapsed and, we were not able to get him out” says Hayden. 

This is what prompted the donating of a device called turtle tube. A instrument like tube used just for grain bin rescues.  

“Farmers got together and agribusiness is out of the county, and we bought eight of the turtle tubes and, donated them to different rescue squad fire departments in the county” says Lowry.

Lowry and others played a big part in getting the devices donated.

Graves County Sheriff Jon Hayden says without this device yesterday morning could’ve had a much different outcome.  

“And we were so fortunate and so thankful that they did that because this device was actually used yesterday” says Hayden.

Lowry shares that much of Western Kentucky is made of farmers and they’re safety should always be top of mind.

“Hopefully, by this coming out, having a good outcome that we as, farmers and the general public, will be a little more aware of it. We need to, we need to be aware of our surroundings, and we need to be aware of the dangers of getting in grain bins” says Lowry. 

The man rescued received medical attention as a precaution but is now home and well.

For more information on the turtle tube Turtle Tube Gen 2 Grain Rescue Product.