Bundaberg rumour mill gets work out over reports of dead body floating down Burnett River

The shock sighting of multiple emergency crews rushing to the river at Bundaberg on Saturday triggered a flurry of social media speculation about a body being pulled from the water, but all was not as it seemed.

Facebook's commenters claimed the body had been fished from under the Burnett Bridge.

Bundaberg locals were shocked by reports of a “body” floating down the Burnett River on Saturday morning after a Facebook post in a community forum captured attention.

The post on the popular ‘Bundaberg Forum No Rules’ Facebook group amassed dozens of comments after someone shared the following: “Anyone heard of the dead body floating up Burnett River??? Or seen it?? Can’t find anything on the news about it?”

Commenters shared concerns in the group over reports police had fished the “body” out of the river at between 3-4am with one saying “cops, firies, coroners SES everything were there.”

Through speaking with emergency services however, this publication has uncovered the truth.

Reports of a dead body in the Burnett River sparked the Bundaberg rumour mill this morning.

According to a police spokesman, crews were called to Alexandra Park in West Bundaberg at roughly 2:36am after reports indicated a man in his 30s had fallen down the bank of the Burnett River.

In what is suspected to be a mental health matter, the man was recovered from the riverbank by emergency services before being transported to the Bundaberg Hospital in a stable condition.

According to reports, Queensland Fire and Rescue Services emergency personnel were required to do a vertical descent to reach the man on the riverbank who had sustained “a pretty obvious fracture” to the leg.

Emergency services assisted the man into a nearby vessel which transported the man and crews to a boat ramp where an ambulance was waiting.

Police indicated a friend or witness was on the scene in support of the man but was unwilling to co-operate with police.

If this story has raised issues for you, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Originally published as Bundaberg rumour mill gets work out over reports of dead body floating down Burnett River