Surfing legend Joel Parkinson wife’s car stolen while out rescuing victims on his jet ski

After spending the day speeding through floodwaters on a jet ski rescuing dozens of Northern NSW residents and their beloved pets, Gold Coast surfing legend Joel Parkinson came home to find thieves had struck his home. WATCH THE VIDEO

Thieves broke into Gold Coast surf star Joel Parkinson’s home and stole his wife’s car as he and other friends pitched in to help rescue dozens of flood-ravaged residents on the Tweed.

‘Parko’ joined mates including fellow surf stars Mick Fanning, Bede Durbidge and Mikey Wright and comedian Celeste Barber’s husband Api Robin on jet skis to rescue scores of people from flooded homes around Tumbulgum and Murwillumbah on Monday and Tuesday.

Surfing legend Joel Parkinson out rescuing flood victims in northern NSW.

Parkinson arrived home exhausted just before midnight Monday to find his garage open and wife Monica’s car missing.

“All day I’d been helping people who were close to losing their lives and their houses and I came home to that,” said the 2012 world champ..

“There were so many people out there trying to do good but some people just want to do bad.”

Parkinson said when he heard about the severe flooding on the Tweed on Monday, he felt he had to do something to help.

Joel Parkinson in Tumbulgum on his jetski. Video: Joel Parkinson

He and Robin launched their jet skis in the flood-swollen Tweed River and rode upstream to Tumbulgum where they carried out dozens of rescues in the low-lying village and surrounds.

“We probably rescued about 30 to 40 people each as well as six dogs, three cats and some chickens,” he said.

“We went to one farmhouse that I thought was one-storey the water was so high. But it was actually two storeys and I was jet skiing over their cars to get to them.

Joel Parkinson and a friend rescue a family from a flooded house in Northern NSW. Video: Joel Parkinson

“We yelled out ‘is anyone home?’ and this four-year-old kid in a life jacket answered the door. We grabbed him, his mum and the dog and got them out of there. Another guy was up in a treehouse with all his supplies.

“The authorities were so overwhelmed and there was just this army of people helping out on jet skis, tinnies, boats … it was just one big community effort. Bede’s wife Tarryn was doing a lot of co-ordinating.”

Surfing legends Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning have been out rescuing flood victims in northern NSW.

Parkinson said it was the worst flooding he had ever seen on the Tweed.

“I’ve never seen the Tweed River looking like that … it was angry,” he said.

“I don’t think I can look at the river the same any more.”