Selfless farmer told SES to rescue neighbouring family first from floods

James Dunbier and his family were rescued from deadly floodwaters when David Knowes sent a rescue boat meant for him to them. By the time it returned for Mr Knowles, it was too late.

James Dunbier says his family owes their lives to their neighbour, who died in the floods. Picture: Thomas Lisson

A farmer who survived the devastating Mid North Coast floods when a neighbour diverted an SES rescue boat upstream to save his family first, broke down in tears as he said: “He sacrificed his life for us – it breaks my heart that we made it and he didn’t.”

Cattle and silage farmer James Dunbier, 38, looked out over the veranda of this swamped 120 acre farm during the early hours of May 21 and saw the water rise at a terrifying pace from Lansdowne River.

Unbeknown to him, neighbouring cattle farmer David Knowles, 63, had declined to board a rescue boat to escape the dangerous floodwaters, telling emergency crews to focus on the stricken Dunbiers up river.

Hours after he had passed his wife Sally, their son Hunter, five, two dogs and the cat, into the tinny that arrived at the veranda, Mr Knowles was found in waist-deep water on the veranda of his own property in Moto, near Taree, around 3am on Wednesday.

“David, he was a gentleman, a good farmer and a good man, someone who put everyone first, and he sent that tinny to me and my wife and son Hunter.

James Dunbier has vowed to make the best of his life in honour of his selfless neighbour. Picture Thomas Lisson

“My five-year-old girl was not with us at the time. If she was it would have traumatised her.

“The SES volunteers came and told us David had sent them, he told them, ‘he’s got young kids, go to them first’,” he said.

James Dunbier lives with the guilt that cattle farmer David Knowles, 63, died after sending a rescue boat bound for him to his property upstream. Picture Thomas Lisson

“The water was rising fast, our home was flooded one and half meters of water and it was rising, it was the most terrifying thing I had ever seen. Acres and acres of floodwater. “It was raging.

“We couldn’t get out, we were trapped knee deep in water.

“I was trying to stay calm for the sake of the family but I’m not going to lie, I was frightened,” he said with tears in his eyes.

“It was overwhelming to think that we were going to be swallowed up in all that water,” said Mr Dunbier.

James Dunbier, was with his wife Sally and their son Hunter, second right, when floodwaters closed in on them. His daughter Amelia, second left, would have been traumatised by floods had she been home, he said. Picture: Supplied.

“David sacrificed his life for us. I have to live with the fact that we made it and he didn’t,” he said.

“We tried to get a boat to him all day Wednesday but we were too late.”

“We will get back up on our feet, we have to make the most of our lives for him, David Knowles saved our lives,” he said.

Mr Knowles, 63, was found dead on Wednesday at 3pm after remaining at his property with his dog and 30-head of cattle on North Moto Road.

His body was found by police after they accessed the property by boat.

Cattle farmer David Knowles, 63, was found dead at his home at Coopernook, near Taree, about 3pm on May 21. He is pictured with his daughter Stacey Hurrell

Mr Knowles’s daughter Stacey and Mr Dunbier had been calling SES and triple-0 since Tuesday evening when the floodwaters began to close in.

The record floods have claimed the lives of four people and left about 50,000 people isolated by floodwaters.

Flooding in the worst hit zones of Taree and Wingham surpassed 6.3m (20.6ft), beating an almost century old record for the highest level.

The clean up is still continuing for Mr Dunbier, who lost 17 of his 35 breeding cows and three kids’ ponies.

“I’ve only got a gelding who is being treated for laminitis (disease of the hoof) and a mare left and a few breeders but I ain’t running,” he said.

“From the bottom of my heart David, thank you for saving us,” he said looking skywards.

“What are the chances of having a one in 500 chance of flood again in my lifetime, I don’t think so.

“We’re not quitting, we’re rebuilding our lives and this community in your honour.”

James Dunbier was rescued from the veranda of his property. Picture Thomas Lisson

Originally published as Selfless farmer told SES to rescue neighbouring family first from floods