Incredible stories of bravery and heartbreak as record-breaking floods smash Queensland

Travellers busting their way out of floating motorhomes, the elderly wading through waist-deep water and farmers trying to rescue pregnant cows are some of the staggering stories which came from unexpected flooding on Friday night.

Residents of the Wide Bay Burnett region watched as their homes, livelihoods and even livestock washed away in a roaring torrent of water early Saturday morning.

Alarm bells sounded throughout parts of the Wide Bay Burnett region at 1am Saturday, as parts of the region prepared to be inundated with rapidly moving and unpredictable water.

Some residents stayed and tried to defend their properties, while others went in search of higher ground.

The ever changing situation saw one couple forced to climb out the window of their caravan near Barambah Creek.

Moments later, it was taken by flood water and left completely submerged as they watched on helplessly.

“The couple is lucky to have their lives,” Gayndah fire captain Ron Mitchell said of the couple who had been inside the van as a wall of water tore through the area about sunrise Saturday.

“God knows where that campervan will end up.”

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Further east, farmers Michael and Kerri Dixon were left helpless as 30 of their livestock washed away at the Brooweena hobby farm about 3.30am.

“When we got down to the gully, the sheep were up to their necks and we couldn’t see any of our lambs any more,” Mr Dixon said.

“I tried to call them to see if they would come but no, we just spent the next half-hour watching them flow down the river.

“I left the gates open for our two pregnant cows and calves but obviously in the dark they’ve become disoriented and they’re gone too.

“All we can do is sit here and try to call them in hopes they come out of the main stream and swim to our higher ground.”

While in nearby Gympie, a woman was forced to spend Friday night clinging to the top of her car as “oceans of water” flooded the town following the torrential downpour from ex tropical cyclone Seth.

The woman was rescued on Saturday in just one of 38 water rescues that took place from 9am Friday to 2.30pm Saturday.

A further 75km west, the town of Goomeri was completely underwater.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services relieved there had been 141 requests for SES assistance throughout the whole of the North Coast region in just 15 hours.

Nev McSweeney, who has been left stuck at Tansey after travelling to visit his grandchildren Friday night, said the flooding “reminds you of 2013” – the last year Gympie flooded.

“There’s oceans of water,” Mr McSweeny said.

“You can’t get into Goomeri at the moment.”

“There’s been people trapped on their cars here all night.”

Kevin Ross waded into flood water to rescue a dog in Maryborough. Picture: Robyne Cuerel

There were numerous horses trapped in and around the Tansey Showgrounds as a result of the downpour, which had cut and washed away roads across the region.

Woolooga resident and deputy mayor Hilary Smerdon said it was the biggest rainfall he’d seen in his 16 years in the region.

“It’s a once in a lifetime event,” he said.

“The low just moved in and sat there all night,” Mr Smerdon said.

The poor dog was stuck in muddy waters near a toilet block. Picture: Robyne Cuerel

Kevin Ross wades into the floodwaters to rescue the dog. Picture: Robyne Cuerel

A dog was saved from “muddy waters” in Maryborough, after Kevin Ross found her floating in water.

“I could see there were lots of people looking at something and then I saw a puppy dog floating in the waters,” he said.

Mr Ross, who said he’s familiar with the area said the dog “gave (him) a bit of a growl” as he approached her.

“So I said ‘I’m trying to help you’ and then she calmed down and popped over … I then dragged her over to dry land.”

Mr Ross has made contact with a family member of the dog’s owner.

Joshua Strbik helped people get through flood waters in the Bundaberg area. Picture: Leon O'Neil

Another rescue mission took place in Bundaberg, when camper Joshua Strbik said he managed to save two cars and rescue six people from raging floods.

Mr Strbik had been camping with friends on a beach at Kinkuna when he and his mates made the decision to go in search of those needing help.

“Our camp was already set up which meant we had to pack up in the rain – your clothes are already wet and so by the stage people needed rescuing I was like ‘I don’t care – rain, hail or shine … let’s get out there and get our hands dirty’,” he said.

He said there were a lot of four-wheel drives trying to escape the wet weather but said the only way in and out was a one-way track.

Joshua Strbik helps campers escape flooding at Kinkuna. Picture: Leon O'Neil

“We had no idea how deep some holes were – we had to get out of the car and walk through them to see how deep they were and if it was safe for our car to go in them,” Mr Strbik said.

“I’ve been in positions where I have needed help and it means the absolute world to you when things aren’t going right and someone puts out a helping hand.

“Because I have had situations in my life when people have extended that hand to me I can’t turn a blind eye when people need help.”

It comes as authorities remain drivers to stay out of flood waters.

“We say it time and time again, but please, do not attempt to cross flood waters,” RACQ spokesperson Lauren Ritchie said.

“There is no safe way to do it.

“It takes just 30 centimetres of water for a car to be washed off the road and we’ve had far more water than that fall in the area, with predictions even more rain is coming.”