Dunklin County man loses leg in grain bin accident

MALDEN, Mo. -- A Dunklin County man is being treated at a St. Louis hospital after losing a leg in an auger while working inside a Malden grain bin.

Lonnie Cornett is listed in fair condition at Barnes Jewish Hospital, according to a hospital spokesman.

Cornett was flown there after being injured in an accident at about 3 p.m. Monday at Stokes Mayberry Grain, said a spokesman with the Malden Fire Department.

"[Cornett] was in the grain bin and stepped in an auger and cut his leg off," the spokesman said.

Gary Beckham, an engineer with the fire department, believed it was Cornett's right leg. "It was severed off; I believe just below the knee cap area," he said. " ... It was a tragic accident."

Beckham also believes Cornett and possibly other employees were emptying the grain bin with corn in it.

"I really don't know how it happened," Beckham said. "The auger is in the bottom of the bin. Whether it pinned him or he fell into it ... I can't say."

Firefighters, the spokesman said, helped remove Cornett from the grain bin.

Emergency medical services personnel, he said, stabilized Cornett and put him on a back board.

"We assisted in getting him out and loading him on a stretcher and into an ambulance," he said.

According to Beckham, Cornett was alert.

"He never passed out any of the time," he said. "On the helicopter, he was alert and talking; that's a good sign. Hopefully, he'll be OK."