Gympie flood emergency claims another life: former Gympie High student Phillip Sugg

A Gympie man whose body was found in floodwaters near Tin Can Bay Road on Saturday afternoon has been identified as a father of three and “well liked” team leader at Nolan Meats.

The man killed in the latest tragedy of the catastrophic Gympie floods has been identified as popular Nolan Meats worker and former Gympie High student, Phil Sugg.

Mr Sugg, 37 and a father of three, had only recently been promoted to team leader where he worked on the slaughter floor at Nolan Meats, a colleague said on Saturday night, and was “well-liked by the boys on the slaughter floor”.

The former Yeppoon State High and Gympie State High student went missing about 10pm on Friday when he started driving through flood waters on the Tin Can Bay Road.

Mr Sugg’s partner, children, family and friends are understandably devastated. Our thoughts go out to them.

Police confirmed on Saturday afternoon the body of a man was found in flood waters near Tin Can Bay Road about 3.20pm.

Popular Gympie meat worker Phillip Sugg has been identified as the latest victim of Gympie’s catastrophic floods.

“Police have recovered the body of a 37-year-old Goomboorian man who went missing in flood waters overnight,” police said.

“An extensive search was conducted and the man was located in flood waters in Goomboorian this afternoon around 3.20pm by Police Dive Squad Officers.

“Police are investigating the circumstances leading up to his death and will prepare a report for the Coroner."

Phillip Sugg was a father of three and well liked.

A land and air search including the Lifeflight rescue helicopter was underway throughout Saturday after the 37-year-old man reportedly drove into floodwaters while travelling along the Tin Can Bay Road about 10pm on Friday.

Police, police divers and QFES swift water rescue teams scoured the rural area between Ross Road and Webster Road at Goomboorian for any signs of the man, but to no avail.

His body and car were located about mid-afternoon on Saturday.

It is the fifth death in the south east’s deadly floods, the third near Gympie. Two other deaths have occurred in Brisbane and one in Ipswich.

Countless people have also been safely rescued by heroic teams comprised of SES volunteers, police, Lifeflight rescue choppers and QFES, including the airlift of a Mary Valley family on Friday.

A man’s body has been found in a car near the Tin Can Bay Road following an extensive search on Saturday.