Australian man stuck in muddy dam survives by keeping his nose above water for hours

An Australian man stuck in a dam spent hours struggling to breathe by keeping just his nose above water.

Daniel Miller was on his excavator at his remote farm around 180 miles north of Sydney when it fell into the dam, pinning him down.

Unbelievably, the 45-year-old managed to adopt a yoga pose by arching his back into the air so that he could keep his nose above the water line.

Eventually his neighbour heard his calls for help and a rescue crew rushed to the scene.

Mr Miller told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph: “I was trapped and had to keep my head up above water using my arms, I guess it was the cobra position.

“I’m not a yogi but I guess you could say yoga saved my life. That and the will to live.”

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Firefighters drained mud and water from the dam, allowing them to wade in and free Mr Miller from his ordeal.

Fire and Rescue New South Wales deputy captain Steve Howard said: “How he kept his back arched with his nose above the waterline was quite incredible for that amount of time.”

Mr Miller was taken to hospital where he was treated for hypothermia and minor back injuries.

His wife Saimaa said his ordeal lasted for five hours.

She added on Facebook: “Dan is ok…

“It was literally sheer mental strength and determination to survive that got him through. As well as being fit, strong and healthy. Nothing to do with luck.

“Legendary effort from a legendary man.”

Top pic: 9News.com