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Pig fattening farm (symbol image): Dangerous liquid manure
Photo: Bodo Marks/ dpa
Toxic fumes apparently escaped during cleaning work in a pigsty in the Bavarian municipality of Adelshofen in the Ansbach district.
Several people became temporarily unconscious.
They were taken to hospitals for treatment, police said on Wednesday.
A 68-year-old farmer wanted to open a slider in a pit filled with water and liquid manure on Tuesday.
In doing so, he fainted.
His 64-year-old wife then rushed to his aid and became unconscious in turn.
Another man who wanted to help also briefly lost consciousness in the pit.
Probably ammonia poisoning
The 37-year-old, together with other first responders, managed to single out the couple.
In addition to numerous rescue workers, a helicopter was also used.
The police assume that released ammonia in the manure pit led to the health problems.
In the case of the couple, a mortal danger could not initially be ruled out, it said.
ala/dpa