Emerald SES hero’s home destroyed and family trapped while he was out helping others

A SES hero who played a key role in helping those hit by the storms in the Dandenong Ranges earlier this year has been left homeless after a tree crushed his home this morning.

Emerald SES volunteer Ben Owen was on his way to help SES crews at neighbouring properties this morning when a massive tree destroyed his home.

“I went to check the neighbours were alright and I thought ‘I better get out and help the SES’,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“Not five minutes up the road I got a call from my wife to say a tree was on the house.”

Mr Owen’s two daughters, aged 12 and 14, and his wife, were stuck inside.

“We had to break windows with the help of a neighbour to get them out of the house, so it was quite traumatic,” he said.

“I couldn’t even run up my driveway. I had to run through next door, around the shed, up the back and over the fence to get tot he back part of the house and get to where they were.”

He says the house is completely ruined.

“The whole house is destroyed,” Mr Owen said.

“Open the front door and there’s a tree in the lounge room. You can’t see the kitchen at the other end of the same room.”

Press PLAY below to hear Ben tell the devastating story