Jens Forrest tells of amazing escape after home topples in landslide
Jens Forrest tells of his amazing escape after his home near Byron Bay toppled in a landslide during the NSW flood diaster. See the incredible video showing where his home ended up.
Byron Shire
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Jens Forrest still does not know how he survived a landslide which toppled his home, sending it hurling down a hillside during the northern NSW flood disaster last week.
The Upper Wilson Creek resident says he managed to get out of the home through a back window, in the dark, with only scrapes and bruises.
His story is one of many emerging from the Mullumbimby community north of Byron Bay which was cut off for days.
Local residents were left to rescue themselves after the torrential rain which sent cars hurling, damaged homes and wrecked roads.
An emotional Mr Forrest told the ABC his community was expecting a flood disaster but there was nothing that could prepare them for what unfolded.
The first sign of trouble came when he lost power.
He went downstairs to calm his dog and then returned back upstairs moments before the landslide hit.
“I heard what I thought was like the loudest clap of thunder.
“Seconds later I was thrown against the front wall of that upper floor where my bedroom was located.
“It just completely pulverised the lower level of the house, (it’s) driven the house forward about 50 metres into the river and then the upper story, which had been separated by the impact of the landslide, just teetered over and fell into the river.’’
He said a couple of times he tried to go back downstairs, not processing the fact that the bottom of his house was no longer connected.
Mr Forrest scrambled out in the dark through a back window which miraculously was free of debris.
“I don’t have any idea of how I got out of it so easily.”
Mr Forrest got out only in his underpants and was covered in leeches.
He is incredibly grateful that they also helped him stretcher his dog out over two days to get to a vet so we could ‘ease her passing in a compassionate way’.
Mr Forrest purchased the home about four years ago but never considered it a landslide risk
He said while the community had been amazing the official response from authorities, including the Army had been ‘basically non existent’.
Mr Forrest said Army engineers, major earthmoving equipment and a co-ordinated, ongoing response was needed.
The extent of the debris was about 200 metres wide and three to five metres in places.
He said it understood there could be 300 people still unaccounted for, while communications had been out for five days.
“I don’t even know how you would even start to rebuild.”
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