Man rescued after more than four days trapped under tree

Jonathan Ceplecha, 59, was cutting down oak trees when one fell on top of him
AP

A man in the US has been rescued after spending more than four days trapped under a tree.

Jonathan Ceplecha, 59, was cutting down oak trees on his land in southern Minnesota last Thursday when one of them landed on his legs, the local sheriff’s office said.

He was found Monday in a ravine just under 100 metres from his house, with both of his legs pinned down.

His son Miles explained how Mr Ceplecha maintained “little pieces of hope” during his ordeal.

The 59-year-old was able to “keep from panicking” by “breaking up the days into hours and then breaking up the hours into five-minute segments so that he could have little victories throughout the day," Miles said.

"He just tried to keep his mind distracted," he added.

Mr Ceplecha managed to maintain 'little pieces of hope'
AP

Police began looking for Mr Ceplecha when he was reported missing after he failed to show up for work.

They found no sign of him and began searching the property with help from his ex-wife and daughter.

Despite the long ordeal, Mr Ceplecha was conscious and surprisingly alert after being found, Chief Deputy Mark Farasyn of Redwood County Sheriff's Office said.

Mr Farasyn asked him how long he had been there, and Mr Ceplecha responded "100 hours," without hesitation, local broadcaster KARE-TV reported.

"He had the will to live, and he wasn't ready to go," Mr Farasyn said.

Mr Ceplecha is an Iraq War veteran and his training probably helped him survive, he added.

It took about two hours for the Redwood Falls Fire Department to free Mr Ceplecha, who teaches English at a school in the town of Marshall.

He was airlifted to a hospital, where he was said to be in stable condition.

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