By DAVID SOUTHWELL, NEWS REPORTER

Published: | Updated:

A young council worker who plummeted seven metres after a cherry picker toppled over will have to learn to walk again after he broke several bones in the fall. 

Brodee Hinchley, 22, was trimming trees in Yokine in northeast Perth last month when the crane overbalanced and came crashing to the ground. 

Mr Hinchley has recounted the terrifying moment, which was captured on CCTV. 

In the video, the 22-year-old is seen landing on the opposite side of the road as the machinery narrowly avoided hitting a parked car.

'I remember holding on and just thinking brace, brace, brace,' he told 7News. 

As a result of the fall, Mr Hinchley suffered a fractured spine, a broken pelvis, arm, ribs, ankle and a collapsed lung. 

He revealed his terrified colleagues who ran to his aid 'thought they were going to watch me take my last breath'. 

Mr Hinchley was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital where he remained for two weeks, with one week spent recovering in the trauma unit. 

Brodee Hinchley, 22, broke multiple bones when he fell on a cherry picker last month

Brodee Hinchley, 22, broke multiple bones when he fell on a cherry picker last month

Mr Hinchley had been trimming trees for the council when the horrifying accident occurred

Mr Hinchley had been trimming trees for the council when the horrifying accident occurred

'It was like a movie. . . you look up and there's all these doctors around you (but) they're just focused on keeping you alive,' Mr Hinchley said of his arrival in hospital.

'They had to operate so what they did was put some screws in (butt) they put a cage where my pubic bone is.' 

Miraculously, Mr Hinchley has managed to find a silver lining. 

'Considering the injuries, I'm not paralysed, not dead,' he said. '(But) as a supervisor I'm just glad it was me and not them.'

Orthopaedic surgeon Sam Young said Mr Hinchley was 'extremely lucky'.

'It could have very easily gone the other way (but) he could've very easily suffered life-threatening injuries,' Dr Young said.

Among the injuries Mr Hinchley suffered from the fall were a broken pelvis and fractured spine

Among the injuries Mr Hinchley suffered from the fall were a broken pelvis and fractured spine

Mr Hinchley said his shocked colleagues thought he might have breathed his last breath

Mr Hinchley said his shocked colleagues thought he might have breathed his last breath

A City of Stirling spokesman confirmed after the accident Mr Hinchley had been contracted to work for the council. 

'The City is aware of an incident involving a contractor earlier today,' he said. 

'The City understands the person involved is receiving medical attention.'

WorkSafe was notified and has been investigating the incident. 

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