Man narrowly escapes death after being trapped under pole

A father is lucky to be alive after being trapped under a telegraph pole on his rural property on Saturday morning.

Odie Barwick was trying to move the pole in preparation for a mulch delivery to his home in Upper Beaconsfield, 45 kilometres southeast of Melbourne.

The 42-year old was in the process of shifting the pole when his leg became pinned beneath it, causing him to call out in pain. 

Cathie Barwick said her ‘brave’ husband still managed to call the delivery man to cancel the the impending mulch order.

‘He was in a lot of pain and then he cancelled the mulch order,’ she said, laughing.

Mrs Barwick said she quickly called emergency services, who rushed to the property and quickly began to administer pain medication to her husband.

A large rescue operation was soon under way and less than an hour later Mr Barwick was freed from under the large wooden pole.

Odie Barwick was trying to move the pole (pictured) in preparation for a mulch delivery to his home in Upper Beaconsfield, 45 kilometres southeast of Melbourne

‘They did a great job, he was on morphine, so he was smiling through the whole experience being a trooper that he usually is,’ said Ms Barwick.

A large crew of rescuers worked to secure the telegraph pole and were eventually able to release the trapped man.

‘If he had been in a slightly different place, it could have pinned him in a different area so we’re really lucky today that the paramedics did such a good job in helping extract him,’ said Ms Barwick

Mr Barwick is now in a stable condition, but hopes to check out of Dandenong Hospital soon and get back to his gardening. 

The 42-year old (pictured) was in the process of shifting the pole when his leg became pinned beneath it, causing him to call out in pain

Cathie Barwick said her husband (pictured) then called to cancel the impending mulch order