Hunter hero: Richard Hansen rescues three from flooded Bingleburra causeway
A brave Hunter Valley cop entered dangerous flood waters to rescue three people from a partially submerged car – including a four-year-old boy. WATCH THE RESCUE UNFOLD
Newcastle
Don't miss out on the headlines from Newcastle. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Hero cop Richie Hansen reckons he took his police vest off to stop it weighing him down, as he continued to battle raging floodwaters to save three people trapped in an unsteady car after they had been swept off a remote causeway on the foot of the Barringtons.
The East Gresford-based senior constable said it was a split-second decision as the body-worn video started recording the dramatic footage of him hauling a four-year-old boy and two women to safety on Thursday morning.
But his proud boss, Port Stephens-Hunter police district commander Det Supt Wayne Humphrey, gave another insight.
“He had the forethought to put his body-worn video on the back of the truck to film what happened, I asked him last night why he did that,” Supt Humphrey said.
“He‘s a humble bloke and he won’t admit it. But what he said to me was that he did that because if it went bad, and something happened, he wanted his family to know he was having a go.
“So that just epitomises the humble nature of the guy, he‘s a part time rescue operator but he didn’t have the big white truck there this time.
“He didn‘t have all his workmates and have all the gear — what he had was a winch and courage and he used both of those incredibly well.’’
Sen Const. Hansen was 15 minutes away from the causeway when he got the call the trio were in trouble.
He arrived at Lyons Rd at Bingleburra, west of Dungog, to find a confronting scene where one woman was clinging onto an open door of the four-wheel drive as water coursed past the bottom of the windows.
“Obviously going in, my intentions were of removing the lady that was clinging to the door and probably just testing the water to see where we would be safe and where was the ideal place to go,” Sen Const. Hansen said.
“The undercurrent spun me around and spit me out on two or three occasions and then I decided to come in from a bit more upstream.
“And that‘s when, whilst doing that, she told me that there was a child inside the vehicle.
“So obviously the priorities changed and we went from there.”As the water continued to make the already-unsteady vehicle rock, the woman and Sen Const. Hansen pulled the boy from a window before the officer braved through the currents again to get the child to safety.
He then waded back in to help the woman outside the car, who said her foot was stuck and she couldn’t move.
“We just talked about trying to wiggle it free, trying to keep her calm, and thankfully she was able to get it free and I was able to grab hold of the shoulders and pull it from the water,” he said.
“And once that was over, she told me about the lady that had medical conditions inside the vehicle, and stated that it would be unlikely that she‘d be able to get through the window because those conditions.
“But I could only get within a metre of the car and it wasn‘t a safe option.”
So Sen Const. Hansen went back to his trusty police vehicle, callsign East Gresford 20, and found a snap strap.
Using the winch from East Gresford 20, he was able to stabilise the stricken vehicle and get to the third woman.
“I was just able to manoeuvre myself and get a little bit close to the vehicle,” he said. ”And that line assisted the lady with her balance getting out of the window.”
Senior police will recommend Sen Const. Hansen for a bravery award for his efforts.
“If Richie hadn‘t done what he did in the manner in which he did it, this would have been an entirely different press conference, the potential for loss of life or injury to those three people, incredibly high,” Det Supt Humphrey said.
He later added: “I‘m not critical of the driver. It was a poor decision at the time and we’ve all made poor decisions in our lives.
“But if you come across a causeway and there‘s water flowing and you think it’s going to be higher than the lowest part of your wheel, don’t drive across it.
“The strength of flowing water across the causeway is substantial. And of course it picks up the whole side of car and then just pushes you straight off it.
“It‘s so very very dangerous”.
EARLIER:
A brave Hunter Valley cop entered dangerous flood waters this morning to rescue three people from a partially submerged car – including a woman who had become trapped on the outside of the vehicle and a four-year-old boy.
It comes after the trio found themselves stuck on a flooded causeway on Lyons Road, Bingleburra, west of Dungog.
A senior constable from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District arrived on-scene after a call for help came in at 9.30am, when he found the submerged vehicle about five metres from dry land.
Using a rope as a safety line, the senior constable entered the floodwater and made his way to the vehicle.
With the help of one of the passengers, he pulled a four-year-old boy through the window of the car and brought him safely to land.
The officer then re-entered the water to collect a 51-year-old woman who was clinging to the outside of the vehicle after her foot had become trapped by a rock.
“The undercurrent spun me around and spit me out on two or three occasions and then I decided to come in from a bit more upstream.
“And that‘s when, while doing that, she told me that there was a child inside the vehicle.
“So obviously the priorities changed and we went from there.”
The officer used a winch attached to his police vehicle to stabilise the submerged car, before re-entering the flood waters for a third time to safely help the final victim, a 44-year-woman.
The trio were treated at scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics for shock, but sustained no injuries.
The local police command is now looking to recommend the senior constable be recognised for his efforts and bravery.
As wet weather continues across the state, police are reminding all those in flood-affected or flood-prone areas to not drive through flood waters; if it’s flooded, forget it.
Members of the public are advised to avoid all non-essential travel, stay informed and be ready to respond to any evacuation orders.
Traffic chaos as thousands of litres of diesel threatens waterway
One of the state’s busiest roads has been brought to a near standstill for most of Monday after a two-truck crash led to one wedging itself in the median strip and leaking thousands of litres of diesel.
Brewer Shield: Country gun hits the road in Greater Hunter’s title defence
A well travelled newcomer has helped Greater Hunter Coast launch their title defence of the NSW Women’s U18s Brewer Shield in spectacular style. Crash and bash, round one T20 wrap.