NSW floods: Surf Life Savers rescue cow in extreme weather’s animal impact

Clubbies have been forced to rescue a cow which washed up on a beach in just one of the devastating animal episodes emerging from the floods on the state’s mid-north Coast.

Lifesavers were forced to become livestock-savers and cattle have been seen running through town CBDs as extreme weather on the mid-north coast sparked desperate animal missions across the region.

A distressed cow was saved by Life Savers at Old Bar Beach, near Taree, after the beast was spotted struggling on the beach on Saturday afternoon. They miraculously pulled the soaking wet animal to safety.

The cow which washed up at Old Bar Beach, just out of Port Macquarie. Picture: Twitter

The dramatic rescue involved six patrol members from Taree Old Bar Surf Lifesaving Club, a local vet and members from the public to help pull the cow out of the water before lifting it into a ute.

“We were alerted by some people on the beach who had seen it (the cow) struggling in the waves,” Taree SLSC’s Michael Cameron said.

“By the time we had got there some bystanders had pulled it from the water. It was exhausting and struggling.

“The cow has now been taken to a local farm where the vet checked it over and left it happily.”

A young bullock seen running down the street in the Taree CBD today.

The cow’s unusual water experience comes amid heavy flooding in the area, causing livestock, cars and in one case a house, to be swept away.

In another wild episode, Taree locals watched as a disorientated bullock ran down the main street of the town’s CBD earlier today.

Former jockey Melinda Turner was forced to evacuate five of her horses at Fernbank Creek near Port Macquarie on Saturday, due to rising floodwaters. Supplied

Former jockey Melinda Turner was one of hundreds of residents in the region forced to evacuate, as she tried to save five of her horses at Fernbank Creek on Saturday.

She said they were “grateful to be out safe with our animals” and were ”one of the lucky ones” compared to others who have lost everything.

“We have lost all fences, garages, stables and sheds all gone. We relocated at 9am on Saturday and swam all our horses to the veranda of the house,” she said.

“By Sunday at 10am when water had dropped enough we were able to get back in and get all our horses out safely. They are all at my mum’s horse training facility safe and we are staying here also.

“At this stage our home inside has been minimally affected. (It’s) just worrying with what’s predicted over the coming days.”

Former jockey Melinda Turner was forced to evacuate five of her horses at Fernbank Creek near Port Macquarie on Saturday, due to rising floodwaters. Supplied

Melinda and her family get the horses moving after floodwaters receded slightly.

However, other animals weren’t so lucky, including a cow’s body which was found by locals on their main beach washed up further south in Port Macquarie.

The once-in-25-years weather event has prompted a Facebook group called Mid North Coast horse/livestock flood recovery group to be set up.

It has already exceeded 2000 members in a matter of hours, which allows residents a “place to post any livestock dead or alive to help owners locate or have peace of mind“.

The SES said there have been over 650 flood rescues since Thursday, and over 7,000 requests for assistance.

They’ve warned farmers to be ready to move livestock and equipment, should an evacuation order be issued in their area.