ABC reporter helps rescue driver from sinking car at Morayfield
An ABC reporter and a bystander pulled a driver from a submerging four-wheel drive on Buchanan Road, Morayfield, as heavy rain hit South East Queensland.
An ABC reporter and another man pulled a driver from a sinking four-wheel drive on Buchanan Road at Morayfield, north of Brisbane, as heavy rain caused flash flooding across South East Queensland on Thursday.
Vision shot by an ABC crew shows the man driving through floodwater on the road before the vehicle stalled and began to sink. ABC reporter Will Murray and a second man swam out to the car.
They first went to the back of the vehicle and tried to break the rear windscreen to free the trapped driver. Murray then swam around to the rear left side, opened the door and pulled the man out just as the car became fully submerged. The other man gave a thumbs up to the cameras, and the rescued driver appeared to be unharmed.
One of three public rescues in 24 hours
ABC reporter Lottie Twyford said the Morayfield rescue was one of three in the previous 24 hours in which members of the public had entered floodwater to help drivers who had driven into it. Police said they were receiving reports by the hour of vehicles being driven through floodwater, and urged people to stay out of it.
Police said the message was simple: if it is flooded, forget it.
Rain and storm warnings across the region
About 170 millimetres of rain had fallen in the area since the morning, prompting flood warnings in several parts of South East Queensland. Twyford said parts of the south-east were already saturated, and that heavy falls were expected to continue through the day.
Flash flooding was reported north of Brisbane, where almost 10 schools closed for the day. Flooding was also reported in shopping centres. Drivers were urged to stay off the roads if possible.
Storm warnings were also appearing further south and inland. Flash flooding was reported at Canungra on the Gold Coast, and warnings were in place for the Scenic Rim and the Darling Downs. People were advised to monitor storm warnings as they were issued.
The report was based on conditions on Thursday, and the situation may have changed since.
Video: ABC News (Australia).
Key questions
- What happened on Buchanan Road at Morayfield?
- A man's four-wheel drive stalled and began sinking in floodwater. An ABC reporter and another man swam out and pulled him from the vehicle just as it became fully submerged.
- Was the rescued driver hurt?
- The driver appeared to be okay after the rescue, according to the ABC vision. No further details on his condition were provided.
- What is the police advice about floodwater?
- Police urged people to stay out of floodwater and not drive through flooded roads. They said they were receiving reports by the hour of vehicles doing so.