Woman rescued, man escapes car swept away in flash flooding

Dramatic footage of the moment an elderly woman was freed from a car in rushing waters has emerged as drivers are filmed still chancing flooded roads in the Wide Bay. PHOTOS, CLOSURES, VIDEOS.

Dramatic footage of a swift water rescue at Bauple, between Tiaro and Gympie has emerged.

Emergency services rushed to the scene on Friday after it was reported a car has gone off a causeway into floodwaters.

The video shows two officers entering floodwaters to free an 85-year-old woman trapped inside a car which had been swept off the road and stuck against a tree at the Scrubby Creek Crossing on Bauple Dr.

Fast flowing water and the tree left the front doors unable to be opened, forcing officers to pull the woman out of the back driver’s side door and fit her with a life jacket.

A person was rescued from a car which has gone off into a causeway

“This incident could have ended in tragedy and I applaud the officers involved for risking their lives to assist this driver so quickly,” Inspector Paul Algie said in a statement on Saturday

It comes as anxious shoppers hit the supermarkets on Saturday morning as Wide Bay locals still recovering from devastating floods in early 2022 kept a close eye on the BoM radar and a rising Mary River.

Flash flooding closed multiple roads and cut off the Cooloola Coast on Friday but an easing of conditions overnight had resulted in most creeks subsiding and the road network opening up.

Tin Can Bay received about 350mm on Friday and Fraser Island 400mm, while in Gympie, a man had a miracle escape after his 4WD was washed off a deadly crossing at Mary’s Creek and at least 200m downstream.

A man's 4WD remains in Eel Creek after it was swept away at least 200m downstream.

The vehicle was still in Eel Creek on Saturday morning, about 10km southwest of Gympie, after coming to rest near a crossing on private property where a grandfather died while trying to drive across the flooded causeway in 2017.

It is believed a male driver who lives further down Mary’s Creek Road was the only occupant of the vehicle and that he managed to free himself and swim to safety on Friday.

He may have escaped through a backseat window.

There have been no reports of the incident to Queensland Emergency and Fire Services, a QFES spokesman said.

As of 2.30pm, the crossing at Mary’s Creek Road was submerged again but a local driver chanced it through the rushing water.

A minor flood watch remains in place on the Mary River with a moderate flood warning at Tiaro.

As of 10.30am Saturday, the Mary River in Gympie was below the minor flood level of 6m at 4.01m and 4.54m at Tiaro.

The Mary River at Tiaro is expected to exceed the moderate flood level of 8m on Sunday afternoon.

Gympie CBD businessman Tony Goodman said on Saturday morning Mary St traders were not concerned about major flooding yet and most shops were open as usual.

Shoppers had other ideas however, hitting supermarkets early to stock up on supplies.

The Mary River is expected to rise just above the minor flood level after an increase in rainfall Saturday morning, a Bureau of Meteorology spokesman said.

BoM does not have any indication of a peak flood level at this time.

Gympie Local Disaster Management Group warned residents of potential flash flooding late Friday night.

Up to 200mm of heavy rainfall was expected and the Gympie LDMG is advising to secure belongings and stay off the road if possible.

Kidd Bridge at 8.30am on Saturday after a minor flood alert was issued the night before. The bridge goes under at 9.9m.

The Mary River at Maryborough was below the minor flood level of 5m at 2.1m as of 4pm Friday.

Further rises are possible later into the weekend.

Flash flooding is hitting many roads of the region as residents are warned not to drive through floodwaters

Emergency crews have also been called to Chinaman Creek near Tiaro after a single-vehicle crash.

One patient has since been transported to Maryborough Hospital in a stable condition.

A person was transported to hospital after a ute crashed at Tiaro.

People have posted reports on Facebook of flash flooding near Woolworths at Cooloola Cove. Photo: Kerry Weatherby

Motorists are being warned not drive in flood waters and expect delays due to the closed roads.

The region has copped significant rainfall and the weather bureau is warning more is on the way.

Tin Can Bay received 190mm of rain since 7.30am and 112mm of rain poured down in three hours at Tiaro.

Parts of Cooloola received 180mm since 9am, a Bureau of Meteorology spokesman said.

Police are redirecting cars at Rainbow Beach Road in Cooloola, a Queensland Police Service spokesman said.

Parts of Mary Creek Rd at Pie Creek have been cut off after being inundated with water.

An initial flood warning as since been issued for the parts of the Mary River catchment with minor flooding likely at Dagun Pocket Friday evening and Gympie overnight.

Parts of Mary Creek Road, Pie Creek has gone under as the severe weather continues.

Here is the list of roads closed due to flooding in Gympie as reported by QLD Traffic and Gympie Regional Council.

Yabba Creek Rd, Imbil

Boonooroo Road / Maryborough Cooloola Road at Boonooroo Plains, Granville and Wallu

Motorists are advised not to drive in flood waters.

Updates to come.

Originally published as Woman rescued, man escapes car swept away in flash flooding