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Gold Coast hinterland trio winched to safety by helicopter as bushfire raged

Two men, a woman and their dog have been winched to safety just as a ferocious bushfire bore down on their property with the family paying tribute to their rescuers.

Sarabah family arrive after being rescued from the bushfires

TWO men, a woman and their dog have been pulled from the path of a ferocious bushfire just in the nick of time.

The trio were running to their dam as flames bore down on their Tabletop Road, Sarabah home yesterday when they were winched to safety by a rescue helicopter.

Their home was destroyed in the inferno.

In shock, the family only had praise for their rescuers as they exited the chopper at the Canungra Showgrounds clutching a handful of possessions.

A family rescued from the bushfires in Sarabah arrive at Canungra Showgrounds. Photo: Kirstin Payne
A family rescued from the bushfires in Sarabah arrive at Canungra Showgrounds. Photo: Kirstin Payne

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“They rescued us,” the woman said, pointing to firefighters.

“They were amazing.”

A firefighter at the Sarabah fire. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT
A firefighter at the Sarabah fire. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Locals had fled to the Canungra Showgrounds with their pets and farm animals as fire advanced on the area.

The Tabletop Road home was the first to be destroyed by the fire with several sheds in the area also burnt to the ground.

A family rescued from the bushfires in Sarabah arrive at Canungra Showgrounds. Photo: Kirstin Payne
A family rescued from the bushfires in Sarabah arrive at Canungra Showgrounds. Photo: Kirstin Payne

The fire that started as a vegetation fire on Monday near Reining Road has now spread to a 40km fire perimeter and was being fanned by strong winds.

The fire has now spread into Lamington National Park.

Bushfires also raged at Stanthorpe
Bushfires also raged at Stanthorpe

Last night the Army was partially evacuating the Kokoda Barracks in Canungra. It’s understood non-essential personnel and their families left the base.

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/gold-coast-hinterland-trio-winched-to-safety-by-helicopter-as-bushfire-raged/news-story/4487fd67323eb01ed983494c1f81c005