A critically injured rock climber has spent ten hours overnight trapped in a crevice known as the “The Squeeze Test”, in Victoria’s west.

The 24-year-old man was climbing at Mt Arapiles and was attempting to manipulate his body through a narrow gap between two boulders, when he slipped and became wedged.

He managed to call friends using his mobile phone, around 10pm (AEST) on Monday, who alerted rescuers.

“Police have been told the man was attempting to manipulate himself through a crevice, known as ‘The Squeeze Test’ … when he fell,” according to a Victoria Police statement.

Police, State Emergency Services and Ambulance crews worked through the night to free the man who is suffering from life-threatening “crush syndrome”.

He was medicated and large heaters were brought in to keep him warm.

Rescuers successfully freed the man from the crevice around 8am on Tuesday.