Coroner: Farmer died of gas poisoning

AMHERST - A 29-year-old farmer near Amherst died last month of an "accidental acute exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas," Portage County Coroner Scott Rifleman said Wednesday.

Mike Biadasz was using a piece of farm equipment to agitate a large outdoor manure pit on his family's farm, which opened a crust layer on top of the pit, "expelling the hydrogen sulfide gas," Rifleman said in a news release. Biadasz was found on the ground near a manure pit by other farm workers who showed up expecting to haul away manure, according to Bob Biadasz, Mike Biadasz's father. That was about 6:30 a.m. Aug. 15.

The National Weather Service found the wind was calm and the sky was clear early that morning, with a heavy layer of fog near the ground, Rifleman said. The lack of air movement and sudden release of hydrogen sulfide gas, which is heavier than air, caused the problem that led to Biadasz's death, Rifleman said.

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Specialists with the University of Wisconsin-Extension were involved in the investigation, along with other pathologists and toxicologists, Rifleman said.

Biadasz's death left his parents and three sisters in shock, but also led to an outpouring of support from the community. More than 1,200 people came to his visitation. The visitation was moved to St. Bronislava Catholic Church because a local funeral home wouldn’t have been able to handle such a big crowd, Bob Biadasz said.

The unusual circumstances surrounding Mike Biadasz’s death motivated his family to start a farm safety memorial fund with collection points at Community First Bank in Rosholt and Stevens Point. A GoFundMe page was also set up by the family.

Chris Mueller: 715-345-2251 or christopher.mueller@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter@AtChrisMueller.