Search called off for man sucked into Lismore stormwater drain

Authorities on Sunday evening called off a search for a man missing in Lismore after witnesses claiming they saw him being sucked into a stormwater drain.

Rescue crews at Lismore after a person was swept into flood water.

The Bureau of Meteorology is warning of “very dangerous” rainfall and thunderstorms in northern NSW, as some residents evacuate their homes overnight.

It comes as authorities on Sunday evening called off a search for a man missing in Lismore after flood waters hit the region, with witnesses claiming they saw him being sucked into a stormwater drain.

About 4pm, police saw and heard a man calling for assistance before losing sight of him. Police Rescue entered the water and the surrounding area was searched by local police and SES but the search was called off because of floodwater dangers. It will resume on Monday.

An evacuation warning has been issued for low-lying areas of north Lismore, south Lismore, Lismore CBD, east Lismore, and Girards Hill.

The SES is also warning the Wilsons River at Lismore could reach 10.6m by Monday morning, with up to 400 buildings in the CBD at risk of inundation.

The CBD and south Lismore are protected from one-in-10-year floods by a levee, but it overflows between 10.2m and 10.6m, depending on rainfall. Locals spent the weekend sandbagging businesses and homes.

NSW SES Chief Superintendent Steve Patterson warned of more rain in the Northern Rivers and on the mid-north coast.