‘Common sense’: Top cop’s message after multiple flood rescues

Emergency services have been called to rescue multiple people who were stranded in floodwater in the past two days. In each case they have risked their lives and the lives of emergency services who pulled them to safety.

Police searched for vehicle missing in floodwater outside Toowoomba. Sadly the man who was driving it died. December 1 2021.

The region’s top police officer has called common sense after emergency services were called to rescue multiple motorists who were caught in floodwater in the past two days.

Southern Region Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon made the call after a Dalby police officer and a member of the public had to be rescued by a swift water crew after they entered the flooded Myall Creek to help a teen who was clinging to a tree, about 2.30pm on Wednesday.

“It could have been double fatal,” Mr Condon said.

“Because of the fast-flowing water they were exhausted.”

The incident came after a 73-year-old Roma man died after he ignored warnings to avoid driving through flood water at Yalangur.

Police and emergency services received a report of two utility vehicles that were both washed into a creek from Kelvinhaugh-Yalangur Road about 8.20am.

The driver and sole occupant of one of the vehicles self-extracted while the other older Roma man and his car were missing for several hours.

Three people, including a teenage girl and a hero cop have been rescued from floodwaters in Dalby. Picture: Anthony Gerard

Police divers from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast were called to assist in the search.

Their task was made difficult due to the high water level of the creek shortly after 3pm the Roma man was located deceased in his vehicle.

“Unfortunately the stupidity of others continues to place the safety of emergency services teams in jeopardy,” Mr Condon said.

“If it is flooded, forget it is a campaign we put out every year and sadly people go into the flood water, drive through the water and get themselves into trouble and sadly this time a man has lost his life.”

In unrelated incidents a woman needed rescuing after her delivery van broke down on a flooded bridge in Grantham.

Police were called to the incident on Harris Street early Thursday morning where an officer had entered the water and extracted the woman.

A person was stuck in flood water in East Street in Inglewood but exited their vehicle before it floated away, about 11am on Wednesday.

Again, QFES crews were called to rescue the person.

A 30-year-old man in a Mazda hatchback attempted to cross flood water on Lyndhurst Lane in Warwick about 7am on Wednesday.

He failed and had to call the emergency services to rescue him but luckily a patrolling police unit found him first.

He was uninjured and transported to Warwick Hospital as a precaution while his car remained stuck until the flood water passed.

Police issued the man with a $743 fine for driving without due care and attention and disobeying a no-entry sign.

Mr Condon backed the efforts of his officers along with the paramedics, firefighters and SES volunteers who assisted in each case, but said their involvement could have been avoided.

“Our people every day do an outstanding job,” he said.

“Your never know what you are going to face it is a testament to the character of all emergency services officers put themselves at risk to save members of the community,

“But the message is clear, just don’t enter flood water.”

Originally published as ‘Common sense’: Top cop’s message after multiple flood rescues