Dorsten (dpa / lnw) - A farmer was seriously injured on a farm in Dorsten (Recklinghausen district) by a liquid manure barrel that burst. The 83-year-old senior boss of the farm, who was probably near the silo at the time of the accident on Wednesday, was flown to a Bochum clinic in a rescue helicopter, the police said.

As the "Dorstener Zeitung" reported, about 200,000 liters of the strong-smelling contents and parts of the border of the giant barrel were distributed over the entire courtyard by the force of the explosion. The silo stood between houses and stables. The cause of the accident was initially unclear.

With the help of neighboring farmers, the fire brigade was able to prevent the manure from spreading into flowing water, it said. The liquid manure poured into buildings and garages, but also partially seeped into unsealed areas.