ADF rescue stranded residents in heroic chopper mission
A daring helicopter rescue unfolded live on television, with an extraordinary display of skill and courage by an Australian Defence Force crew.
A daring helicopter rescue unfolded live on television just outside Lismore on Tuesday, with an extraordinary display of skill and courage by an Australian Defence Force crew.
Shortly before midday three people were spotted on the roof of an isolated house, completely surrounded by floodwaters from the swollen Richmond River with only the roof of the two storey building above water.
The two men and a woman stood, linking hands as the helicopter approached.
A dog waited patiently in a boat tied to the building.
A crewman from a navy helicopter was lowered to the roof in heavy winds but slipped and fell through the corrugated roof on his first attempt.
After emerging from the water and clambering back onto the building, the crewman was able to attach a rescue ring to one of the three and they were winched up to the helicopter.
The pair swung wildly on the cable in the heavy winds, narrowly missing trees as the crewman gave hand signals to direct the pilot, but made it successfully to the helicopter.
As the second person was being lifted, a television aerial on the roof next to them snapped and the rescue had to be aborted for several minutes as the cable was disentangled and helicopter hovered overhead.
Finally, each of the other two was lifted into the helicopter despite the precarious conditions.
The three rescued people were taken to the Lismore evacuation centre.
It is unclear what became of the dog.
Emergency services patrolling the Lismore region said more than 1000 residents had been caught in the area for up to 24 hours, unable to evacuate because of the rapid rise of the river.
Floodwaters rose rapidly, up to eight metres, consuming households and forcing residents to seek refuge on rooftops, bridges and boats.
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