NEWTON - A Horizon Milling employee was trapped for 40 minutes Thursday morning after his arms were entangled in a conveyor belt, on the top floor of the mill, about 130 feet above ground at 300 East Broadway.

The man, who has not been identified, was in surgery Thursday afternoon at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus, Wichita.

"What we know is he has sustained a wound and fracture on his right arm and also wounds and several fractures on his left arm," Lori Flisse, director of media for Cargill, in Minneapolis, Minn., said. Cargill owns Horizon Milling.

Surgeons would know more about the extent of the man's injuries following surgery, Flisse said.

Newton Fire EMS Battalion Chief Scott Metzler said emergency crews answered the 911 call about 9:30 a.m.

"He was working on a large conveyor belt that conveys flour and wheat," Metzler said. "He became entangled in the inner workings of the machine and by the time his partner could get to him, his arms had been pulled into the machine."

Metzler described a difficult extrication, which included disassembling the machine and belt. The man was conscious throughout the ordeal and his condition was critical.

"We committed a team of six to extract him," Metzler said. "It was a fairly narrow place and the rescue team accessed the crisis point by a man-lift elevator."

An air ambulance landed on the elevator's roof to transport the man to the Wichita hospital.

"I do know the Horizon Milling managers are with the gentleman and his family," Flisse said. "He was talking with his wife and coworkers before he went into surgery."

Cargill was working with the Newton Fire Department and police in the investigation of the accident.

"At this point we don't know how he got caught," Flisse said. "We know he got caught and hollered for help."

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Statistics of industry illness and injuries - compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor - from 1994 through 2005.