Earthquake nearly fatal for Oxford farmer | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

A man almost killed by a falling chimney during Christchurch's big quake credits his "heroic" wife and neighbours for saving his life.

Simon Robinson, 55, was crushed in his bed when the chimney crashed through the roof of his Fendalton home -- fracturing his legs, puncturing his lung and forcing his hips and shoulders out of alignment.

The Oxford farmer came close to being the only fatality in the 7.1 magnitude earthquake.

Mr Robinson said he was "incredibly grateful" to his "heroic" wife Debbie and neighbours who got together a team of people with a stretcher, managed to free him from the rubble and get him to hospital within an hour.

"I was pinned to the ground and squashed into a corner of the bedroom. I remember everything and it feels surreal how life has changed," he said in a statement from his hospital bed.

Mr Robinson thanked the staff at Christchurch Hospital, where he had been in the Intensive Care Unit since the accident.

"I am very lucky and very thankful to everyone who has helped me, especially the amazing medical staff at Christchurch Hospital. Canterbury is an amazing place -- the way we pull together and help each other out," he said.

Mr Robinson is in a stable condition in the the Intensive Care Unit recovering from his injuries and following operations on his legs, feet, jaw and shoulders.