Dramatic video released of the moment police rescued a Baralaba farmer who was choking after falling into his grain silo. They are honored for their quick-thinking courage

Breathtaking footage has emerged of two police officers and other rescuers fighting to save a drowning farmer trapped in a grain silo.

John Lawson, 78, from Baralaba in Queensland fell into the silo and began sinking rapidly on February 23 this year.

Police rushed to the scene and desperately scooped away the grain as it quickly engulfed the farmer.

For an hour and a half, officers shielded Mr Lawson from the sun, constantly checking that he was comfortable and ensuring he could breathe.

Sergeant Wylie Steel and Senior Constable Callam Moriarty remained by the farmer’s side while emergency responders cut into the side of the silo to create an escape route.

On Friday, the two officers and a paramedic received the Working Together Award for the Queensland Police Everyday Hero Awards in Brisbane.

Two officers and a paramedic received the Working Together Award for the Queensland Police Everyday Hero Awards in Brisbane on Friday for their efforts to free Mr Lawson.

The footage shows Mr Lawson’s swollen hand on top of the grain as one of the officers scoops piles of grain away from his face to create an air passage.

As the area around Mr Lawson’s head was hollowed out, police were able to relieve pressure on his body.

“Take a breath, go ahead,” an officer tells him.

‘We’re doing well, look at that. We’re winning here, buddy!’

The two officers stood by John’s side throughout the ordeal, while countless others circled the silo trying to free him.

At one point, a harness was wrapped around John and rescuers attempted to remove him from the grain once his upper body was free.

After that failed, others cut a hole in the side of the silo, allowing the grain to flow out quickly.

Once released, Mr Lawson was placed on a stretcher and wheeled out of the hole into a waiting emergency vehicle.

Sergeant Wylie Steel, Senior Constable Callam Moriarty and a Queensland Ambulance paramedic were rewarded for their bravery in the silo.

Mr Lawson was trapped in the silo for an hour and a half while more than a dozen rescuers tried various techniques to get him out.

Senior Constable Callam Moriarty (pictured) was rewarded for his bravery on the day, saying he was ‘humbled’ and just wanted to help

Twenty-two volunteers and career police officers were nominated for the award for their outstanding contributions to the community.

Mr Moriarty said the award was unexpected and “incredibly humbling”.

“I’m very grateful for what we can do in a small town, especially being able to spend time making connections with the community,” he said.

‘The local mine closed, people took to the streets on tractors and others closed their businesses that day to come and help us.

“Just being able to walk down the street and still talk to John and see how he’s doing, that’s what it’s all about.”

Mr Lawson escaped with only a minor leg injury and made a quick recovery at Rockhampton Hospital.

He said he got stuck after standing on top of the silo in an attempt to loosen the grain after rain stuck it together.

After poking it with a metal stake, he gave in and quickly swallowed it before his farmhand called the police.

“I’ve emptied thousands of silos and grown a lot of grain and never had any problems, but the situation was a little different,” he says. told ABC at the time.