American father-of-two Pete Munyan crushed by 10 tonne steel beam in Hastings

A father-of-two was stuck under a 10 tonne steel beam for more than two hours after a tragic workplace accident in Hastings.

Pete Munyan is being cared for in the Royal Melbourne Hospital with his wife Michelle, two children and his brother by his side. Picture: Supplied

It took two hours of desperate rescue efforts to free father-of-two Pete Munyan after a 10 tonne steel beam fell on him at work.

The night shift worker was working at the BlueScope Steel factory on Bayview Rd, Hastings when a crane broke and the beam fell about 9pm July 2.

Mr Munyan’s cousin Deb Baker said the accident happened after the crane moving the beam broke.

“The beam fell on top of him,” she said.

“He was stuck underneath it for two hours because they had to get a specialist rescue team to get the beam off him.”

The incident occurred at the BlueScope Steel factory in Hastings.

Mr Munyan, who grew up in Rochester, New York, was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital where he had to undergo multiple emergency surgeries.

“His left foot had to be amputated, he had multiple spinal surgeries and there were multiple breaks in his pelvis,” Ms Baker said.

Ms Baker described her cousin as a talented all-American athlete and a true adventurer with a great sense of humour.

“He is one of the most amazing people you will ever meet,” she said.

“At work, he was the guy everyone calls up when they need a favour or when someone has called in sick.

“He always goes the extra mile for the people around him.”

Ms Baker said Mr Munyan’s life had completely changed after the incident but it would be weeks before the family knew the true extent of his injuries.

“At this stage we have been told Pete has no brain damage and no respiratory trauma,” she said.

“We don’t know what his mobility will be and he is not out of the woods yet.”

The family set up a GoFundMe to help with medical bills and challenges his young family will face after the accident.

It’s already raised more than $29,000.

Ms Baker said the family was grateful for the the support and generosity the community had shown them.

Worksafe Victoria is investigating the incident.