Couple escapes crocs, flooded car and three days in scorching Queensland outback

A couple in their 50s spent three days in some of the croc-infested territory without food, phones, a car or bottled water.

A couple has escaped their flooded car, the scorching outback and survived two nights being stalked by a crocodile in remote north west Queensland.

The couple and their two dogs were picked up by a Lifeflight rescue helicopter on Saturday after writing two large “SOS” signs in the sand.

The pair, aged in their 50s, had no food or bottled water and were treated for dehydration and exposure after three days of 40 degree heat.

The couple were flooded in a river near Staaten River National Park. Pictures: Google / Supplied

The Lifeflight helicopter was able to land nearby. Picture: Supplied

The incident happened near the Staaten River National Park in Queensland’s Gulf Country, well over 300km west of Cairns.

State-funded rescue helicopter organisation LifeFlight, in a statement, details the rescue.

The couple and their dogs were travelling in a 4WD which was washed away by flood waters. They had tried to cross a river and a large wave flooded the vehicle.

Floodwater swallowed the vehicle. Picture: Supplied

The couple escaped out of the passenger window and swam through croc-infested waters to shore.

The man swam back to get the two dogs out.

The pair had no phones and even so they were in an area without reception.

The travellers were also not carrying food, but drank river water while keeping as far from the crocodiles as possible. They wrote two large “SOS” signs in nearby sand.

The Lifeflight rescue crew spotted the pair’s call for help. Picture: Supplied

The couple were treated for dehydration and exposure by the Lifeflight crew. Picture: Supplied

Temperatures reached 40 degrees on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday a friend alerted authorities that the couple were overdue, and the rescue helicopter took off from Mount Isa.

The helicopter crew knew the pair were heading from Normanton to Kowanyama, and spotted the distress signals from the air.

Landing on the road beside the river, paramedics on-board treated the patients and they were taken to Normanton Hospital.

Originally published as Couple escapes crocs, flooded car and three days in scorching Queensland outback