Bundaberg farmers rescued after being stranded overnight

Two farmers have been rescued after a trip to check on horses cut them off from their homes. READ THE LATEST FLOOD UPDATE:

A pair of Bundaberg farmers were finally rescued by helicopter after they spent the night trapped in flood waters on their property.

An RACQ Lifeflight spokesperson said the two farmers, one aged in his 50s and the other in his 60s, had crossed a creek on their property on Friday to move horses and equipment ahead of the incoming flood; but when they tried to return, the water had risen dramatically.

The pair radioed their homestead, and one of the farmer’s wives called triple-0.

A rescue helicopter was called to the scene, however, the weather was too dangerous to fly and the rescue mission was postponed until Saturday morning.

In the mean time, the men were forced to find shelter in a shack on the property, with only two cans of baked beans to sustain them.

They were rescued on Saturday morning at around 8.30am and brought back safely to their homestead.

It comes as the Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for heavy rainfall in the Bundaberg region on Friday, with fast-flowing floodwaters forcing several road closures.

It comes as BOM warned of possible “life-threatening” flash flooding for parts of the Wide Bay-Burnett which could extend to Bundaberg.

Bundaberg Council and The Department of Transport and Main Roads were forced to close several roads on Friday.

Roads currently closed and affected by flooding include:

• Goodwood Road, Thabeban (all lanes)
• Rosedale Road, Meadowvale
• Rosedale Road, Watalgan
• Luckes Road, Bucca
• North Bucca Road, Bucca
• Walla Road, Morganville

• Tirroan Road, Tirroan
• Duckpond Road at Moolboolaman
• Wonah Road at Wonbah Forest
• Kalpowar Road at Kalpowar/Molangal (all lanes)
• Monto Mount Perry Road and Gayndah Mount Perry Road
• Bruce Highway at Takilberan (all lanes)
• Bruce Highway at Monduran (all lanes)
• Bruce Highway at Tararan Creek Bridge (all lanes)

According to the Moore Park Beach Community News, Events and Information Facebook group, Booyan Road at Moore Park Beach has also flooded over.

An upper low will continue to bring heavy rainfall which will become more widespread, with rainfall totals between 100mm and 160mm expected for Friday.

Rain is expected to continue affecting catchments which is likely to include:

• Calliope River
• Boyne River
• Baffle Creek
• Kolan River
• Burnett River
• Burrum and Cherwell Rivers
• Mary River

Locally intense rainfall which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash-flooding is possible with thunderstorms during Friday afternoon.

BoM released a map of the area likely to be impacted by severe rain.

A separate severe thunderstorm warning will be issued if very dangerous thunderstorms with intense rainfall are detected.

Various flood watches and warnings are current.

Locations which may be affected include Gympie, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Cooroy, Nambour and Rainbow Beach.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:

Never drive, walk or ride through flood waters. If it‘s flooded, forget it.

Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.

For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

The next severe weather warning will be issued by 5pm Thursday.

The warning comes after a man spent the night fighting for his life after he was trapped by floodwaters in the Bundaberg region.

According to RACQ Lifeflight Rescue, the man, in his 60s, was driving through the region in the dark when he was caught in fast flowing water at a rural property.

He managed to escape from his car and clung to a tree until the early morning.

A group of farmers spotted the man during a daily check of their property, bringing him to dry land before contacting emergency services.

Bundaberg’s RACQ LifeFlight Rescue chopper flew to his aid at 7:30am Thursday morning after road access for an ambulance was found to be cut off by floodwaters.

A QAS Flight paramedic treated the man for hypothermia and other existing medical conditions, before he was flown to the safety of Bundaberg Hospital in a stable condition for treatment.