By Tyler Wright
Local emergency response agencies have come together to assist a man who suffered serious injuries after being trapped by a fallen tree in Olinda on Saturday 29 July.
It’s understood the man in his 30s was walking on Upper Coonara Road on Saturday afternoon when five CFA units responded to reports of a person stuck at around 4.43pm.
Monbulk Fire & Rescue Brigade, Olinda Fire Brigade, SES, Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria/HEMS were on the scene, a CFA spokesperson said.
Monbulk Fire & Rescue Brigade captain Simon Schroder said crews used a hydraulic spreader to rescue the man before he was taken to the Olinda oval by paramedics.
“He’d been pinned by the right leg under the tree,” Mr Schroder said.
“He had significant injuries, multiple injuries…it’s fair to say he was in a fair bit of shock.”
An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said the man was airlifted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious but stable condition, with injuries to his upper and lower body.
Mr Schroder said the brigade said trees falling on cars, homes, and people walking unfortunately “does definitely happen” in the Dandenong Ranges.
“We certainly had our share of fatalities over a stretch of time…it’s part of the environment in which we live in,” he said.
