Dalby flood rescue: Constable Mathew Owen speaks on Myall Creek heroics

When a teenager was clinging to a tree and pleading for help after being caught in dangerous floodwaters, one Dalby policeman knew he had to act quickly to keep the young girl safe. Here’s what the heroic officer had to say about the heart-stopping incident:

When a young teenager trapped in roaring floodwaters desperate for help, one hero Dalby didn’t hesitate for a second on what he had to do to keep her safe.

Constable Mathew Owen had never entered floodwaters before, but when he and his partner were face with a teenager clinging to a tree in Myall Creek on December 1, he didn’t think twice.

“It was a bit tough there towards the end, but it all worked out so that’s the main thing,” Constable Owen said.

Three people, including a teenage girl and a hero cop were rescued from floodwaters in Dalby. Picture: Anthony Gerard

What had been a relatively normal day quickly changed when the call came into that station, with people including children caught in Myall Creek floodwaters.

Constable Owen and his partner rushed to the scene under lights and sirens, along with many other police officers from the Dalby Station.

And there was little time to think when they arrived.

“Another crew had already arrived a few moments earlier. One of our other offices (was) already in the water, he was rushing to these three young kids what were on the bridge, holding onto the railing,” he said.

“I just got in and helped him with those three and that's when our attention was diverted to the young female out in the middle, holding on to the tree.”

Constable Owen initially tried to swim out to the terrified girl, but the creek was simply flowing to fast.

Instead, he decided to “float” to her.

But getting to her was only part of the battle, with the pair, along with another good Samaritan who had swum out to assist, forced to cling to the tree for nearly two hours in the raging torrent.

“I’ve never swam in floodwaters before so I didn’t really know what to expect, (the current) was a lot stronger than it initially looked,” he said.

“It was mixture of trying to reassure her that everything was going to be all right, and seeing how she was going.”

The former soldier said it was a relief when the trio where on a swift water rescue boat, heading for the shore.

Police at the scene of the dramatic rescue. Picture: Anthony Gerard

The policeman was taken for a check over at the hospital and given the all clear, saying he was just “a bit sore in the arms”.

And while many have labelled him a hero for his actions, Constable Owen wasn’t keen to accept the title.

“I’m definitely not a hero, I just happened to be working at the time,” he said.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that anyone else at the station or in QPS would have done the same.”

But the humble hero had a simple message for the community with more rain forecast in the coming days: stay out of floodwaters.

“It’s just not worth the risk. With that situation we got very lucky,” he said.

“Fatal accidents have happened with that very situation, it’s just not worth your life.”