Vincent Marychurch saved over 50 South Lismore people in his tinnie the night floods devastated the region

A South Lismore man has been recognised as a legend and lifesaver after rescuing 50 people in his own tinnie the night Lismore was devastated by floods. Now he’s getting his reward.

Vincent Marychurch travelled in his tinnie down Casino Street in the early hours of Monday February 28 and realised a light was sending a morse code message to him.

Vincent Marychurch saved 50 people in his tinnie when floods tore through South Lismore Picture: Nicholas Rupolo.

He thought it said SOS.

His boat arrived across the road in front of an 85-year old man’s awning when he yelled out to him over the thunderous rain “I thought you were SES”.

Vincent saw him standing on a chair with his dog in one hand and a bag of medication in the other and said something to him that over 50 people heard that morning.

“Mate, get in the boat”.

Vincent is responsible for saving more than 50 South Lismore residents in his tinnie that fateful morning and taking them to refuge in the nearby public school.

After he got his family to safety at his in-laws’ place, he travelled up and down the streets from around 4am rescuing stranded neighbours and elderly folks for more than three hours.

With a safe structure available at the school, he thought it was better to take them there than try to take them across town.

It was a decision that saved so many lives in South Lismore.

Vincent Marychurch was offered a mattress from Mud-Army rep Darren Nelson’s business ‘Solace’ Picture: Nicholas Rupolo.

“It’s like going into damage control, if you’ve ever been in a traumatic situation you’ve got to be first responding, once you learn to deal with it you’ve got to learn how to respond and how to get people to safety, how to remove danger from a situation,” he said.

“My decision to go to the school was a decision that saved a lot more people than if I was going to take people to the town.”

The worrisome thing for Vincent was that just before the sun rose along with the water he was one of the only boats pushing against the raging torrent to assist people.

The Aussie spirit shone through in his Casino Street home as Vincent MArychurch saved over 50 people Picture: Nicholas Rupolo.

He wondered where the other support was in between ducking under live electricity poles, floating cattle and shipping containers as he chugged along Casino Street.

It has taken him a few weeks to realise just what kind of impact he had.

As he stands in the front lawn of his home which was completely inundated by flood water a delivery truck rolls by and in it is a soft, fluffy slice of heaven.

It was a mattress delivered by family business owner and ‘Mud-Army’ representative Darren Nelson.

Solace Sleep's Darren Nelson donated mattresses to Vincent and his wife on Casino Street Picture: Nicholas Rupolo.

It might just be the only fresh thing he has right now, but for Vincent having somewhere to comfortably sleep at night is worth a million dollars.

Mr Nelson has been delivering mattresses and bedding equipment in Lismore for a few days and knew that of all people who put their lives on the line, Vincent deserved the reward.

“His story was unbelievable,” he said.

“I challenge every large corporation to give a bit as well. We all pitch in, we can do more, but I own a family business and this is what we are doing.”