Swift water rescuer Ben Walker opens up on Wide Bay floods

A first responder at the forefront of the flood rescue effort has spoken about the ‘exceptional’ 24 hours for emergency crews across the ravaged Gympie and Fraser Coast regions.

The surprise rescue of two people randomly encountered in floodwaters along the Bruce Hwy, including one in a tree, were among dozens carried out by frontline emergency staff on a night described as “exceptional”.

Maroochydore-based Ben Walker was among an army of emergency service personnel called in to the region to help during the torrential downpour unleashed by ex-cyclone Seth on Friday night, flooding communities and washing out roads.

He said the night, during which more than 650mm fell on areas to the north and east of Gympie, unfolded was “a bit more exceptional than usual.”

The shift, which started from 6pm and did not end until slightly after 4pm the next day, not only included inspecting “hundreds” of cars that had been swept off the road by the raging waters but “randomly coming across people in trees who needed rescue we didn’t know were there”.

Mr Walker said they were sweeping along about 1km of the Bruce Hwy with someone walking at the front of the boat when their attention was drawn by someone waving a mobile phone torch.

“We just looked to our left and there was a man in a tree,” Mr Walker said.

“Not someone we knew about all.”

Claytons Towing Facebook post of damage to the Bruce Highway. Ben Walker was one member of a rescue team who was searching along the highway when they came across a man stuck in a tree, followed by a second person wading through floodwaters.

The man had been swept off the highway and ended up in the tree about 15m away from the road,” Mr Walker said.

It was soon followed by a second surprise.

“In the process of rescuing that person we came across another person wandering along in the floodwaters,” he said.

“It was a pretty interesting night last night.”

Unfortunately not all searches had good outcomes.

Mr Walker’s crew also found the body of a 22 year-old man who tragically drowned in floodwaters at Kanigan.

“Public bystanders who did some really good work in helping us locate that young man last night, which provides early relief … for the family,” he said.

Early in the night crews were also called to houses in undated by the rising waters.

“In the middle of the night when the water comes into your bedroom it’s probably not the best feeling.”