Note: we are republishing this story to raise awareness for the Mike Biadasz farm safety and education memorial fund. Learn more at their Facebook page here as well as their website here.
A farmer and 16 of his cattle have died in a freak accident after a “dеаdly dome of air” formed in a Wisconsin farm’s manure holding tank.!!
According to WAOW, a 29-year-old farmer named Michael Biadasz, from Amherst, Wisconsin, died of gas poisoning on his family’s farm after being overcome by fumes of either methane or sulfur oxide. Initially, 13 of the farm’s cattle died as well; later, three more expired, bringing the total to 16 cattle dеаths.
The 29-year-old’s father, Bob Biadasz, co-owner of Biadasz Farms, said that the tragedy was the result of a “perfect storm” of unusual and unexpected weather conditions. When the tank was prepped to be pumped, warm upper air temperatures trapped the gases in a dome of air which then poisoned Michael and the cattle.
Biadasz was reportedly found dеаd when other workers arrived to begin hauling manure away from the tank.
“The family is devastated, absolutely devastated,” Portage County Coroner Scott Rifleman told WAOW.
Rifleman told WSAW that gas poisoning dеаths typically occur in closed areas, making the incident even more surprising. The coroner said that atmospheric pressure prevented the gases from dissipating.
The coroner went on to say that an investigation is underway to determine exactly what caused Biadasz’s dеаth. According to Rifleman, Biadasz had safely emptied the same tank hundreds of times prior to the fatal incident.
The Biadasz family honored Michael by parking a line of tractors and machinery along the road that passes the farm. Among the vehicles parked are a blue tractor, several red trucks, and Michael’s black pickup truck…
“As if there isn’t already enough dаngеr in the lives of farmers, this family had to suffer this freak accident,” one Facebook user commented on the story. “So sad.”
Following the tragic accident, many are calling for tougher regulations to be placed on manure holding tanks to prevent a similar incident in the future. According to All That’s News, the National Agriculture Safety Database says that there should be proper ventilation in areas where animals are stored and that warning signs must be posted nearby.
“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,” the NASD writes.
WASW reports that a similar unfortunate fate befell a Virginia family in 2007, when five of its members died as a result of a pipe blockage that caused a fatal buildup of methane gas.
I Took My Fiancé to Visit My Parents — He Ran Out Screaming ‘I Can’t Believe It!’ in the Middle of the Night
Adam and I had been together for six years, planning to marry next month. But during a visit to my parents’ house, everything changed. Adam discovered their unconventional marriage—a secret I’d kept—and it rocked his trust in me.
It all began with a visit to my childhood home. Despite Adam’s preference for a hotel, I convinced him to stay for nostalgia’s sake. The visit started well, with family meals and laughter, but that night, Adam witnessed something shocking—my mother kissing another man. Horrified, he demanded an explanation, assuming infidelity.
I had dreaded this moment for years. My parents had an open marriage, and I had kept it hidden, unsure how to tell Adam. When he confronted me, I tried to explain, but he was too upset. His own trauma from his mother’s infidelity clouded everything. Feeling betrayed, he left for a hotel, needing time to process.
The rest of the visit was tense. My parents apologized, but the damage was done. On the drive home, we decided to seek therapy to work through the trust issues and Adam’s unresolved fears. Now, we’re talking more openly, trying to heal and move forward together.
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