This is the dramatic moment a man was rescued from flash floods this morning (July 13) by climbing onto a digger.

The resident was heard calling for help and clinging to a tree and heavy rain caused torrents which swamped villages in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, just after midnight.

''There's someone there, somebody is trapped,'' a resident is heard saying in the video.

''The house is flooded, there are people inside.''

Concerned neighbours were unable to reach the man, who was surround by raging flood water.

However, one quick-thinking local commandeered a CAT backhoe and braved the deluge to reach the stricken local. They then climbed into the metal bucket to be carried to safety in the Masamba District of North Luwu Regency.

Masamba sub-district head, Ajie Saputra, said the flood dragged away a number of wooden homes in the village.

He said the flood was the worst so far this year and followed several hours of intense rainfall.

Ajie Saputra added: ''The damage will be assessed today and we will know then whether there are any casualties.''