A 19-year-old Adams man was airlifted to St. Marys Hospital by Mayo One and his dad was taken to the hospital by ambulance Wednesday morning after they both fell into a whey tank.

Sheriff Terese Amazi said both are doing well.

According to Amazi, Joey Gerard Smith Jr. was putting a gauge in a whey tank at 62499 110th St. in rural Adams when he was overcome by the noxious fumes and fell in the tank.

His dad, Joey Gerard Smith Sr., 42, went to the tank to help his son, but he was also overcome by fumes and fell.

Richard Smith, Smith Sr.’s brother, cut open the tank with a chainsaw to get the two out. They were already out of the tank and breathing when rescuers arrived at the scene, but Mower County sheriff’s deputies gave Smith Jr. oxygen while they waited for Mayo One.

Amazi said the tank was likely filled up to three feet with the whey mixture. Both drowning and suffocation are possible when a person falls into a whey tank.