Driver Pulled from Sinking Vehicle North of Brisbane
A motorist was rescued from a sinking four-wheel-drive vehicle just moments before it submerged entirely during severe flash flooding north of Brisbane. The incident occurred on Buchanan Road in Morayfield when the driver attempted to cross rising floodwater and the vehicle stalled.
ABC reporter Will Murray, who was in the area covering the severe weather event, and local bystander Daniel Hainey swam out to the vehicle as water rapidly filled the cabin. According to accounts from the scene, the rescuers managed to open a rear door and pull the trapped driver to shallow water just as the vehicle disappeared beneath the surface. Witnesses noted that the intervention occurred within seconds, averting a potential fatality.
Severe Rainfall and Emergency Responses
The dramatic rescue unfolded against the backdrop of intense storms that lashed southeast Queensland, dropping torrential rain across multiple catchments. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, heavy downpours triggered widespread flash flooding, with locations such as Caboolture recording roughly 240 millimetres of rain over a six-hour period, while Morayfield registered approximately 170 millimetres.
Emergency services faced a heavy workload responding to the weather system. In a separate operation early Friday morning, a swift-water rescue team reached another motorist trapped by floodwater on Old Laidley Forest Hill Road in the Lockyer Valley, bringing him to safety shortly before 4 a.m. Across the region, numerous roads remained closed, and local authorities reported hundreds of calls for assistance as waterways surged.
Official Warnings Issued
Queensland Fire Department officials reiterated strong warnings urging members of the public to avoid entering or driving through floodwater. Authorities emphasized that even seemingly shallow water can conceal powerful currents, hidden obstacles, and rapidly shifting depths that pose severe risks to motorists and pedestrians.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!