Second Gold Coast death as police discover woman’s body in Mudgeeraba floodwaters
Police have made another tragic discovery, with the body of a missing woman located in Gold Coast floodwaters.
Gold Coast
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The body of a missing woman has been discovered by police divers in Gold Coast floodwaters, marking the second local death from this week’s tragedy.
Police say the woman, 42, was believed to have been missing in floodwaters at Mudgeeraba for up to five days, after she was last seen driving near a swollen creek.
A co-ordinated search was launched by Queensland Police in the days following involving Polair and dive squad officers.
Police say the woman was reported missing on Tuesday but was last seen February 27 travelling in a vehicle on Gunsynd Rd near Bonogin Creek.
It is the second flood-related death on the Gold Coast in recent days, after a man and his dog were found drowned inside his vehicle at Currumbin Valley.
Forensic examination and analysis will be required to confirm the woman’s identity with police to prepare a report for the Coroner.
Gold Coast floods turn deadly, police investigating Currumbin floodwaters death
February 28: Police are investigating the circumstances of a death in Gold Coast floodwaters on Monday.
Gold Coast Police acting superintendent Rhys Wildman urged people to steer clear of flood waters and plan ahead.
He said police are investigating the circumstances of the death of a man in floodwaters in Currumbin Valley on Monday, including if bystanders tried to help him.
“There were multiple instances in that timeframe,” Supt Wildman said.
“Including a woman stuck in a tree and a man stuck in a house.”
Mayor Tate also urged people to obey road closure signs.
“People have been driving around or tampering with signs,” he said.
“What they don’t know is that we have CCTV now and we have number plates which will be passed onto police when this has passed.”
Earlier: The major flooding event on the Gold Coast has turned deadly after a man was washed away in floodwaters in Currumbin Valley.
The body of a man, believed to be in his 50s, and a dog, were found in a submerged car after 10.45am.
Police say authorities were called after reports of a car in trouble in waters over Currumbin Creek Road near Stackpole Street about 3am Monday.
The vehicle was believed to have been driven 30 to 40m into flood waters, a police statement said.
Police and a swift water rescue team attended but were unable to locate the vehicle.
Surf Life Saving Queensland were called to utilise an inflatable rescue boat in the search and located a vehicle submerged around 10m from the roadway around 10.45am.
It is understood the man resided in northern NSW.
Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said the incident was a tragedy and highlighted the importance of not driving into flood water.
The body of a man and his dog have been found inside a car, that’s been washed off the roads in Currumbin Valley. The first death on the Gold Coast as a result of these floods, heartbreaking news. @7NewsGoldCoast@7NewsBrisbanepic.twitter.com/sQNU4PEZOv
— Carly Madsen (@Carly_Madsen) February 28, 2022
“We do not want to see any (more) loss of life,” he said. “Please avoid driving into, or near flooded roadways or creeks.
“These situations can change really quickly with very little rainfall due to the current saturation within the catchment.”
Supt Wildman said the valley was hit with fast flash flooding.
“That was a challenge this morning, the speed at which those areas were impacted,” he said.
“We were involved in a number of swift water rescues involving SES and QFES overnight in that vicinity.
“And it’s just an absolute tragedy that we’ve unfortunately had this one death now unfold this morning.”
Supt Wildman said no other people on the Gold Coast were unaccounted for.
Senior Sergeant Rob Finlay, of Coolangatta police, said the man’s death was a tragedy.
He said the man had gone to a house in the area to move his car from rising floodwaters in the early hours of Thursday when he veered or was swept off Currumbin Creek Rd into Currumbin Creek.
“All the roads in this area were inundated at the time,” he said.
“It was very early in the morning so people can get disorientated. Police were made aware (of the man’s disappearance) by a call to Triple 0 this morning.
“Unfortunately, the deceased had a dog with him in the vehicle which is sad as well.”
FEBRUARY 28, 10AM: Motorists driving through flood waters is “totally unacceptable”, the city’s top cop says, he urges residents to stay off the roads amid the unfolding flooding event.
Gold Coast police Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman, who is the district disaster coordinator, reminded motorists that if it was flooded forget it.
“Unfortunately, yet again overnight we have seen a number of vehicles entering flooded road ways resulting in the potential loss of life and putting not only themselves at risk, but also our emergency service workers who have to then go in and recover and support and rescue those persons,” he said.
“It’s just totally unacceptable.”
He said while the weather is clearing the flooding threat on roadways was likely to remain in the coming days.
Supt Wildman said he had instructed officers to take action against motorists if appropriate.
“We are looking at enforcement action and we certainly will be taking appropriate action against anyone we believe has deliberately driven past road signage advising the roads closed and put themselves and our emergency service staff at risk,” he said.
Police assisted in a rescue at Currumbin property early on Monday.
“There was two people, one was in a tree, the other was on the roof of their house,” Supt Wildman said.
The woman was able to get herself out of the tree and to safety, while swift water crews rescued the second person from the roof.
Cops warn motorists to stop moving closed road signs
FEBRUARY 26: Police have warned motorists to stop moving road closure signs and driving through flooded areas.
A Queensland Police spokesperson said officers were having trouble with people moving signs in areas on the Gold Coast and driving through “dangerous conditions”.
A Gold Coast Bulletin photographer captured drivers going through a flooded weir on Gold Coast Springbrook Rd, late Sunday afternoon.
A hinterland cafe is also pleading with motorists to be mindful of driving in flooded waters past their business saying it creates more work for the businesses clean up.
Curtis Falls Cafe manager Hannah Battistuzzi shared a post to Facebook on Saturday evening after the roads surrounding the cafe were flooded.
EVACUATION ORDER ISSUED FOR TWEED TOWN
“Please note that driving through the flooded waters at Curtis Falls does push the water on the road over our barriers and into our shop,” she said.
“It leaves an ever bigger job for staff to fix when this weather clears up.
“If it’s flooded forget it, the after math isn’t worth the two second sticky beak,” Ms Battistuzzi said.
FULL LIST: ROAD CLOSURES AND EVACUATION ORDERS
She told the Bulletin she was appreciative of locals who were supplying to shop with products to help them prepare for further flooding.
“The amount of people who are willing to come and help get the cafe back on it’s feet again after this enormous flood is amazing,” Ms Battistuzzi said.
“The place has been standing for years and is run by locals.
“We would love to open again soon for our lovely locals, so please be mindful of our beautiful cafe.”
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