REDWOOD FALLS (LEARFIELD) –  A rural Redwood Falls man is alive after being pinned underneath a fallen tree for 4 days.

“In nearly 30 years on this job, I’ve never seen anything like it and I don’t think I ever will again,” said Redwood County Chief Deputy Marasyn.

He said family members found Jonathan Ceplecha, 59, pinned under a tree Monday afternoon. Earlier in the day, authorities had received a call to check on Ceplecha after he didn’t show up for work either Friday or Monday, but they did not find him at his home.

Ceplecha is a teacher at MATECH in the Marshall School District. He is also a veteran.

Farasyn says Ceplecha was alert and conscious and told rescuers he had been pinned since Thursday morning – about 100 total hours.

Farasyn says it took about two hours for emergency responders to free Ceplecha.

“The Redwood Falls Fire Department did an amazing job at the extrication of him,” said Farasyn. “It’s something you just don’t dive in and do, you have to study this for a while and take all of the necessary precautions,” said Farasyn.

Ceplecha is a veteran, and a teacher in Marshall. He was airlifted from the scene to a hospital.