Drake couple killed in Long Gully Road fire: NSW Bushfires Coronial Inquest

An older Northern NSW couple who lived on a remote property were “bush-smart” with an informal bushfire plan - but nothing could prepare them for the horror of the 2019 Black Spring/Summer inferno.

The cause into the tragic deaths of a beloved Northern NSW couple killed in the 2019 bushfires has been revealed.

The coronial inquiry into the NSW bushfires and adjoining inquests into the deaths of Drake farmer Gwen Hyde, 69, and her retired service station-owner husband Bob Lindsay, 77, continued on Wednesday (September 7).

The Drake couple tragically died fighting the blaze in their Coongbar home, near Drake, on October 8, 2019.

The couple’s home was one of at least 45 structures destroyed in the Long Gully Road or Drake bushfire, which likely started from a lightning strike at Sandy Hill on August 30.

It burned through 74,000 hectares, including through the Tenterfield and Clarence Valley townships until October 27, 2019.

The fire lasted a total of 53 days.

Married couple Bob Lindsay (77) and Gwen Hyde (68) who sadly perished at their Deadman Creek Road, Coongbar property in the bushfires near Drake in northern NSW. Picture: Supplied

The inquest had previously heard evidence from several friends of the couple and helicopter pilot Ashley Hogan who spotted the pair waving for help but was unable to safely land.

State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan heard closing submissions from Counsel Assisting Adam Casselden SC who said the fire made a 25km eastwards run the day the pair were killed.

He noted not every resident in the Long Gully Road area was alerted and numerous residents were “shocked at the speed and ferocity of the fire” which at times was spotting 10km in advance of the main fire front.

Mr Casselden expressed his condolences to the family of the pair before detailing how “fierce progression” and extreme fire conditions struck their rural property.

The inquest heard how the home was bordered by a pine forest plantation and rugged bushland and that while Ms Hyde was described as “physically fit and active”, Mr Lindsay had some mobility issues.

Fire crews at the Long Gully Rd bushfire near Drake in 2019.

Mr Casselden said Ms Hyde rang a number of friends during the day, including Barry Usher, who said she sounded “concerned but not panicked”.

“Bloody fires again,” the inquest heard Ms Hyde said to Mr Usher.

Later that day, Ms Hyde called triple-zero for help as the fire had engulfed her orchard, but firefighting crews were unable to respond as it was “deemed likely too long to attend the property given the remote location”, Ms Casselden said.

Ms Hyde’s last call was to friend Carl Waters who told her to get somewhere safe.

She told him the house was on fire and firefighters had said “they’re not coming”.

“Everything outside is on fire,” Mr Waters had told the inquest.

Aerial shot of the Long Gully Rd fire on September 6, 2019. Picture: Supplied.

Firefighters who reached the home at 6.30pm found the property destroyed, and by October 10, the pair had been found together underneath their collapsed roof.

Mr Casselden detailed evidence from NSW Police investigator Steve Hoffman who said mobile reception at the deadend property was “predominantly non-existent”.

“In his opinion, the property was not well prepared and at high risk of being impacted,” Mr Casselden said.

That is despite Ms Hyde being regarded as “bush-smart” with an informal fire plan to drive to a nearby swamp if fire struck.

“Gwendoline had a longstanding view in the event of fire she would be very unlikely to leave the property, Robert or the animals,” Mr Casselden said.

Mr Casselden said the inquest could find the deaths of Ms Hyde and Mr Lindsay were the result of the Long Gully Road Fire.

The inquiry is in stage two of its hearings and further hearings into the Busbys Flat fire will be heard next week.