NSW deluge disaster: Flood victim was respected dog breeder travelling to Royal Easter Show

The man who died in flood waters in Sydney’s southwest was a well-known dog breeder, who was on his way to the Royal Easter Show.

The man who died in flood waters in Sydney’s southwest was a well-known dog breeder, who was on his way to the Royal Easter Show.

Anthony Ikin, 68, died on Friday after his car got stuck in flood waters on Cut Hill Rd at Cobbitty on Friday morning after the Nepean River broke its banks.

His body was recovered late this afternoon, after a major salvage operation by police divers, the SES and the police rescue helicopter.

Mr Ikin, who was known to many as Tony, was a well-known dog breeder, who often judged competitions for the Australian National Kennel Council.

The sad news was revealed as the downpour is finally set to end — after days of evacuations and emergency warnings.

Anthony Ikin was a respected dog judge.

He was on his way to the Royal Easter Show.

With the assistance of Polair, police divers and the NSW SES, police retrieved the body of a 68-year-old man from the remote area of Cut Hill Rd several hours later.

Camden MP Peter Sidgreaves said he experienced a moment of shock when he learned a life had been lost in his community.

The body of a man is removed after he was trapped in a vehicle submerged in flood water on Cut Hill Rd at Cobbitty. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“Yes we are used to flooding in the region, but to lose a life is devastating,” Mr Sidgreaves.

“I pass on my condolences to that family and it’s so sad to hear that it got to the level where we lost a life.

“I hope the community comes together to help those who have been devastated by the floods again.”

Meanwhile, NSW’s disaster deluge is continuing with the Bureau of Meteorology and SES releasing further flood warnings and evacuation orders in parts of Sydney.

Police divers return on PolAir after recovering the body of a man trapped in a vehicle submerged in flood water on Cut Hill Road at Cobbitty. Picture: Jonathan Ng

A body has been found in a van on Cut Hill Rd in Cobbitty. Picture: Facebook

The BoM released a flood warning for the Nepean, Hawkesbury and Colo Rivers on Friday morning, subjecting more than 2000 people to potential evacuation orders.

Early BOM predictions of a major Hawkesbury-Nepean flood, higher than what was observed in March, have been averted, with floodwaters at Wallacia peaking at 10.9m on Friday.

Police and SES on Cut Hill Rd, Cobbitty. Picture John Grainger

According to the BOM, flooding at North Richmond will peak later on Friday or Saturday at 10m.

The SES is warning residents to stay alert.

— additional reporting by Annie Lewis

Camden floods again

The Camden community is counting the cost of the flooding once again, with the river reaching a peak higher than the major flooding experienced in 1988.

Waters began to recede in the city on Friday morning, the same day the Camden Sports Club was set to open after being devastated last month by floods.

After laying brand new carpet, furniture and appliances to get the local club up and running again Camden Sports Club Director of Volunteers Steve Urquhart said “there’s more tears than water lying around at the moment”.

“It’s been four weeks and we were planning to open up today. We were going to have a trial run with some groups but the water has gone through and smashed the place again,” Mr Urquhart told The Saturday Telegraph.

“I’m just looking down the road here out the front of the club and it’s like a war scene.”

Camden Sports Club was flooded again after most repairs from the last flood were being completed.

Millions of litres of water headed down the Nepean River to low lying areas like Emu Plains.

Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said while the state was experiencing “flood fatigue”, people needed to keep following the advice of emergency services, with rivers and waterways set to rage on for several days.

“It will stop raining, it will get better,” Ms Cooke said.

“We just need to keep (getting) through this one day at a time.”

⚠️ #Flood Warning issued for #HawkesburyNepeanValley. #Moderate flooding occurring at #NorthRichmond and #Windsor. See https://t.co/AdztI2rqg1 for details and updates; follow advice from @NSWSES. #NSWFloodspic.twitter.com/vTxMkAWcKR

— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) April 8, 2022

Wet weather eases

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Jane Golding said the sun was set to make a rare appearance on Sunday, as Sydney’s downpour finally comes to a halt.

“It’s looking to be quite a nice day,” she said.

“We do have flood warnings current though, so although the rain is easing … we do have major flood warnings for some sites.

“The rivers will be moving quickly (and) there’s a lot of debris flowing around.”

In the 24 hours to Friday afternoon, the SES received close to 1200 requests for assistance and conducted 35 flood rescue operations.

High water levels on Loftus Creek near the Woronora River in Woronora yesterday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Heavy rainfall and flash flooding continues.

Flash flooding

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke addressed the heavy rainfall and flash flooding across NSW in a press conference on Friday.

“I continue to ask people across our state to follow the instructions of the SES,” Mr Perrottet said.

Heavy rain and floods continue to pound NSW.

He praised the efforts of the NSW emergency services, in particular the SES and the Rural Fire Service, for “putting their lives at risk to protect ours,” over the past few days of heavy rainfall.

“What has been very pleasing is that we have only lost very few lives,” Mr Perrottet said.

“We will get through this flooding as we have in the past.”

Ms Cooke empathised with NSW communities saying they are “flood fatigued”.

“It will stop raining, it will get better, we just need to keep grafting, one day at a time,” Ms Cooke said.

She highlighted that despite the reduced rainfall forecasted for the day across the state, the dangers are still present and communities should still be on alert.

“Whilst the rain today may be easing, the risks are not,” Ms Cooke said.

In the last 24 hours to Friday Cronulla South has recorded the highest rainfall in Sydney with a total of 160mm.

During that same time period, Sydney has recorded 125mm of rainfall, with Rose Bay 144mm.

The NSW south coast was also hit hard on Thursday with Darkes Forest in Wollongong recording a staggering 207mm of rainfall.