Firemen, police officer nominated in Pride of Australia for work during Bundaberg flood crisis

IF January's Bundaberg flood drama was the subject of a movie, these men would be stars of the show.

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CAIN Josefski likens it to a blockbuster action movie.

If the movie had action heroes they were firefighters Scott Hunter and Carl Dernehl, and policeman Michael Glover.

Their location was Bundaberg North - or Ground Zero as it came to be known by the "Mud Navy" of police, firies, surf lifesavers and civilians who pulled off the largest maritime rescue and evacuation in Australia's history.

The men's actions have earned them nominations for a Heroism Medal in the 2013 Pride of Australia Medal.

Mr Josefski, an auxiliary fire service captain who, as the incident controller for the first part of the day witnessed many acts of valour, said none were as great as those of the three action heroes.

For around six hours, Mr Dernehl and Mr Glover waded, often waist-deep, through rapids, over submerged fences and through fast-flowing floodwaters thick with debris, going from house to house to usher people on to boats.

"They risked their lives majorly, they're very lucky to be with us today," Mr Josefski said.

"I would not like to have done what they did that day. Everything was coming down in that water - there were cars, stock, big gas cylinders, and those guys were in there without any rescue gear or even a life jacket, just shorts and T-shirts pulling people from houses and getting them on to boats. And none of them was trained in swift-water rescue."

More than 1000 people and 300 animals were saved on that day in Bundaberg North.

Mr Josefski said Mr Hunter spent most of the day in and out of boats, but had risked his life by wading across one of the widest stretches of fast water to reach 100 people stranded at a service station.

He then ferried them back and forth in a small boat for evacuation in larger boats.

Volunteer firefighter Mr Hunter said he was sent to the area only in case of a fire, motor accident or similar, but it quickly became clear what the priority was.

"We could see straight away that we needed to get in boats, and I got caught up doing that for six hours solid," he said.

"You couldn't predict what the water was doing and if there were submerged items, but I had confidence in my abilities so I just got in and did it. And given the same situation I'd do it again."

Mr Josefski said the work of those men and the whole Mud Navy prevented a tragedy that day.

"It was them (Mud Navy) that really saved the day because so many people could not get on to their roofs to be winched off."

Nominate your unsung hero at prideofaustralia.com.au. Nominations close tomorrow (July 16). Facebook: facebook.com/prideofaustraliamedal. Twitter: @prideofoz

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