A WORCESTERSHIRE farm worker was "lucky to have survived" when a six-ton log rolled on top of him.

Despite agonising pain, Alan Bent managed to call for help using his mobile phone at around 10.15am yesterday.

Mr Bent had been trying to move a fallen ash tree off a fence at Lodge Farm, Elmley Castle, when it moved down the hill, fracturing his legs and injuring his pelvis.

The father-of-two was put on a drip by the county air ambulance team, while a winch to secure the tree and high-pressure inflatables were put in place by fire crews during the 50-minute battle to free him.

Station officer at Evesham, Steve Fellows, said the combined emergency services rescue "ran smoothly", with Mr Bent airlifted to Cheltenham General Hospital.

"By using the high-pressure air bags and putting wooden chocks under the log we slowly managed to raise the tree off him to pull him out," said Mr Fellows.

"The tree was on his abdomen and pelvis and if he hadn't had his mobile phone on him he could have been there for some time.

"He was cold, but he was still able to direct paramedics and the medical crew to where he was hurting".

The steep incline meant all-terrain vehicles were also used to constantly ferry medical supplies to the injured worker.

Farm manager Mick Richards said Mr Bent had been trying to free the smashed fencing by chopping the log into more manageable chunks.

A County Air Ambulance spokesman said: "He was very lucky to have survived, because if the log had rolled further up his body it would have killed him," he said.

The hospital was unable to confirm his condition as the Evening News went to Press.