Hero cop given top award for flood heroics

Sergeant Michael Coad was one of the officers who put his body and life on the line during a daring rescue during the Townsville floods. Today he’s been recognised for his efforts.

A police officer whose heroic actions saved lives during the Townsville floods has been recognised for his efforts.

Sergeant Michael Coad, based on the Gold Coast, was one of five officers who worked tirelessly to rescue Idalia residents trapped by rising waters during the February 2019 disaster.

“It’s good to get recognition for the job that we did up there,” Sergeant Coad said after accepting his award.

Coad was awarded the National Emergency Medal at a ceremony on the Gold Coast for the heroic effort, which involved battling chest-high waters and life-threatening flooding.

Sergeant Michael Coad was awarded the National Emergency Medal at a ceremony on the Gold Coast. Photo: Madeleine Graham.

“It was a pretty hairy situation, something I’d never come across before. I couldn’t have done it without the other members from Townsville, who I’d never met before that shift.”

Sergeant Coad helped commandeer a Townsville City Council heavy-duty truck that was then used to ferry residents from the most devastated areas for multiple trips, before it became bogged and was assisted by the military.

“We only had one goal in mind and that was to save the people who had no escape route. We were fortunate enough to get a council truck to get us in where no one else could go. It’s something I’ve never experienced before. I’m proud of it and the people we saved were in real danger.”

The officers were stunned when they arrived with the tipping truck and found scores of trapped people who were loaded into the vehicle before being lifted out.

At the time, over 1000 emergency call-outs were made in less than two hours during a night that was described by then Townsville Police Inspector Damian Irvine as ‘pandemonium’.

Townsville officers Ricky Lyness, Jacqueline Gray and Simon Bryant and Aaron Pawsey form Mackay were all previously recognised for their efforts during the same rescue events.

Sergeant Coad was also recognised with an Assistant Commissioner’s Certificate.

Gold Coast District Officer Geoff Sheldon said the ceremony was a great opportunity to recognise the lengths police officers go to in service of their community.

“It’s a good chance to give back, we seem to take so much, we impose on people’s lives, we transfer them around the state and impose onerous duties upon them,” Officer Sheldon said.

“It’s an acknowledgment of the effort that’s been put in and it’s a good way to thank the families as well as the officers.”

Originally published as Hero cop given top award for flood heroics