82-year-old rescued in Burrapine, west of Macksville, by FRNSW

A man battling chest pain in a remote location west of Macksville was saved thanks to an epic five hour rescue mission through floodwaters and rough terrain.

An elderly man with chest pain trapped west of Macksville has been saved in an amazing operation which saw volunteers race through floodwaters and rugged terrains.

A Fire and Rescue NSW ‘in-water’ rescue team, SES volunteers and NSW Ambulance paramedics were all faced with transporting the man out of remote Burrapine, west of Macksville about 7.20pm on Friday.

The 82 year old was trapped in Burrapine and had been suffering from chest pain after recent heart surgery.

Five-hour remote rescue for an 82 year old man saved in Burrapine, NSW

The man was reportedly “drifting in and out of consciousness”.

Fire and Rescue NSW flood water experts had been pre-positioned in the area to respond to emergencies during the weekend weather threat.

The team had just finished completing a joint training drill when they were called into action.

The conditions were ragged and visibility was poor as rain fell.

Along with heavy rainfall, the firefighters were confronted by a snake as they slogged through wet, rugged bushland.

In pitch black darkness and heavy rain, the mission was halted after paramedics and their patient were separated from the rescue party by rising floodwaters at 10pm.

The emergency team feared the patient’s condition was deteriorating and set up a base of operations downstream as they mapped out a plan to extract the patient.

Temporary lighting was set up and an SES High Clearance Unimog vehicle (truck) was brought in to transport the man across the harsh terrains to an ambulance.

The “high clearance vehicle” was the only asset capable of undertaking the rescue, due to the depth and flow of the creek line and heavy weather conditions.

The patient was placed on an emergency stretcher and carefully lifted onto the truck.

The Fire and Rescue NSW flood water rescue team walked out in front, clearing a path for the vehicle as it crossed rapids to reach the patient and make the return journey.

In-water team ‘Alpha’ is one of four FRNSW flood rescue teams based at Coffs Harbour and Lismore during the current wet weather threat.

The man was eventually rescued after an epic five hour rescue through flood waters and tall grasses.

The elderly man was further stabilised and transported to hospital.

FRNSW Station Officer Matthew Gregory said it was a great demonstration of co-ordination.

“It was another great example of our emergency services working together during these difficult times,” he said.