Oh....that's rough! I wonder if he managed to climb out of it after he stopped laughing too hard. Up the pole seems to be the only escape route.

I'm guessing it takes a bit of help. I feel like trying it on the light pole across the street but fear if it works as portrayed i'd end up yelling for help.

That's kind of clever actually. I'm surprised I've never seen something like that before.

I think all he has to do is either A) use a little upper-body strength to pull himself up high enough to extend his knees or B) lay backward and push his lower-legs forward on the concrete, not that either of those options is necessarily viable (depending on strength and flexibility).

I thought it seemed he HAS to go up the pole, and that would be more difficult with his legs pinching the pole creating resistance (but also letting him use them to reposition his hands and inch his way up).
His lower foot is hooked around the back of the pole, making sliding them forward near impossible (especially with all your weight on them). It did seem like pulling yourself up the pole should be doable, if you can stop laughing long enough to do it!
I was also totally surprised I had not seen this before, and found it quite clever.

Nobody else finds this terrifying? Okay...

I'll dream of dragging myself home on broken ankles tonight.

Oh yeah, I did.
Having severe claustrophobia, it gave me the heebie jeebies right away, and I instantly thought how glad I was my older brother didn't know this trick when we were kids...although I would have a really strong upper body now if he had...and/or repeatedly broken ankles/legs.

If the person lets go of the pole and leans or falls backward it will cause serious back injury. There was a big controversy a few years ago by teachers and parents about letting this technique be shown on YouTube out of fear kids would try it and seriously injure or kill themselves. And it is impossible to escape from.

http://youtu.be/jwUGDEeiIfw

FeddieW shows it can be escaped (though supervised) I don't see a YT version so a FB version will have to do...
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1043462089003417&set=vb.110201492329486&type=2&theater

Still not suggested...

One would think squeezing your thighs together and pushing down, while pulling up with your hands would allow a point where your lower foot could sweep free.

Oh, and the problem with the FreddieW video is the guy doesn't have shoes on.

YOU KNOW NOTHING!!

Maybe so, but I know what I know.

Now i'm just confused.