Man dies in floodwaters after Broken Hill cops month of rain in 15 minutes
A 64-year-old man died in floodwaters over the weekend after a town in outback NSW copped a month’s worth of rain in just 15 minutes.
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A 64-year-old man has died after his car was swept into floodwater during freak flash flooding in Broken Hill over the weekend.
The man was travelling in a Mitsubishi Triton ute on Netley Road, about 90km southwest of Broken Hill, in the early hours of Sunday morning when his vehicle was swept off the road by a flooded creek.
Both the driver and his 37-year-old passenger were able to get out of the car, but as they tried to swim to safety, the older man lost consciousness.
He was pulled to land by the passenger but died at the scene.
Major flooding around the streets of Broken Hill ☔ï¸â˜‚ï¸ pic.twitter.com/TpZtRwvfxy
— Sarah McConnell (@SarahJMcConnell) September 19, 2020
When it rains it pours in #BrokenHill! pic.twitter.com/4mmyeLb0Mh
— Michael Cutting (@cutabove77) September 19, 2020
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death is under way, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
More than a month’s worth of rain fell on the outback town in just 15 minutes on Saturday, with 33mm dumped on Broken Hill between noon and 2pm.
Saturday’s total was more rain than had fallen on the area in the past six months.
The Broken Hill State Emergency Service was inundated with more than 100 calls for help and performed two flood rescues during the wild storm.
SES crews were also called to collapsed ceilings, flooded homes and fallen trees.
Originally published as Man dies in floodwaters after Broken Hill cops month of rain in 15 minutes