Ingham couple, baby rescued by floody legend Alex Booker as waters rise rapidly

With their possessions floating away, no power and food for their newborn baby, one North Queensland couple has told how they were rescued by a ‘floody legend’ in his tinny.

A thankful Hinchinbrook couple and their newborn daughter have extended their eternal gratitude to the community after they were saved from floodwaters by a local floody legend.

Jonty Brown, a commercial fisherman, said he read a Townsville Bulletin article featuring a video interview with Alex Booker who was ferrying locals to and from their flooded homes and properties.

He contacted the Bulletin for Mr Booker’s number and was able to call him for help to flee their rural two-storey home on Fairford Rd west of Ingham with wife Codie and two-week-old baby Remi.

Codie and Jonty Brown and newborn infant daughter Remi were rescued by 'floody legend' Alex Brooker west of Ingham. Picture: Cameron Bates

“We just weren’t ready for it to be that bad (and) I was worried about the baby and the missus, didn’t have enough food at home, didn’t have any power to heat up bottles, so safety was my main concern,” Mr Brown said.

He said although the floodwaters did not reach the second storey of the home, the water was going over his mailbox and on Fairford Road, “it would have been over my head”.

“I wasn’t expecting it to come up so much and I end up seeing my shit floating down the road so … I started swimming after it and grabbing it.”

Flooding in Ingham on Tuesday, February 4. Photo: Cameron Bates

Mr Brown, an experienced construction worker, said he wanted to tell the community that he was grateful and ready to help people get back on their feet with whatever services he could provide.

“I’ll be staying home after this to help rebuild the community, using my skills as much as I can,” he said.

“It’s all you can do in these situations is help everyone out, we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the community; we’d be stuck at home, starving.

“I wouldn’t be able to feed the missus and the missus wouldn’t be able to feed the baby … if it wasn’t for the community, we’d be f---ed.”

Codie and Jonty Brown and newborn infant daughter Remi were rescued by Alex Brooker west of Ingham. Picture: Cameron Bates

Ingham 'floody legend' Alex Booker

Mr Brown said the State Emergency Service had told him it would take three days to rescue his family.

“We weren’t anywhere near priority, they said three days, at least.”

Mr Brown said he was unable to repay Mr Booker with fuel but had some frozen fish in his freezer.

“It was the least I could do, he’s an absolute legend.”

Mr Brown said it was a rough introduction to parenting but, like Mrs Brown, was loving the experience.

“It’s unreal mate, it’s the best experience in the world, it’s indescribable.”

Mr Brown has already begun his service, helping elderly ladies at the Ingham evacuation centre retrieve their vehicles.

Originally published as Ingham couple, baby rescued by floody legend Alex Booker as waters rise rapidly