1.10pm: A 74-year-old man has been freed from underneath a digger outside a home at Woonona.
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The man has suffered a crushing injury to his right foot and will be transported to Wollongong Hospital.
Senior Constable Jason Huggins, from Wollongong police, said the man had been working on the small excavator – a hire bobcat – in his front yard.
“The excavator’s tipped over and trapped his right foot,” Sen Con Huggins said.
“It was a mini excavator, which is quite heavy.
It is understood the man’s foot is not broken. His injuries are not life-threatening.
Sen Con Huggins said it appeared the man was home alone at the time.
“If you’re working with this kind of equipment it is dangerous and unpredictable, so have someone help you out,” he said.
Greg Shepherd, Wollongong Fire Station commander, said the man spent about 25 minutes trapped under the machine, which is believed to weigh 2-3 tonnes.
"We used our 20-tonne airbag and hydraulic spreaders," he said.
"Working with ambulance crews, we slowly lifted it away so that it caused no further injury."
A neighbour, Mel Brown, said he heard the trapped man crying out in pain and came to his aid.
“I brought a bit of an iron bar to lever it but couldn’t budge it,” he said.
“He just said his leg was under there and he was in a lot of pain with it.
“As soon as I realised I could do nothing I ran straight home and got the phone and rang triple-0.”
The man appeared to be working on his front yard – a flat, grassy surface, when the machine tipped.
12.50pm: Emergency services are at a home in Woonona, where a man has become trapped under a digger.
Paramedics were called to a home on Narelle Crescent about 12.30pm on Wednesday.
Early reports are that the man is trapped by his leg and is in pain.
Police and Fire and Rescue NSW crews are also on site.
Fire crews are preparing to lift the machine off the man, as at 12.50pm.