Eden Private Hospital floods, 31 patients evacuated as storm causes havoc in Cooroy

Water was gushing from the ceiling and flooding in the halls of a Sunshine Coast hinterland hospital which forced 31 patients to be evacuated. Watch the video:

It was all hands on deck at the Eden Private Hospital after the facility began to flood following a severe weather event which led to the relocation of 31 patients.

A Queensland Ambulance spokesman said paramedics transported 17 out of 31 patients from the Cooroy health facility in Noosa’s hinterland after the building’s roof suffered storm damage on Wednesday evening.

Flooding hits Emerald St, Cooroy, on January 2. Picture: Brendan Lewis.

Bureau of Meteorology’s Felom Hanniffy said more than 65mm of rain fell in one hour in Cooroy which demonstrated the “caliber” of the storm.

“Overall there was 110mm that fell in Cooroy yesterday,” Mr Hanniffy said.

“That was driven by the very humid conditions we’ve had over the last couple of days.

“It was intense given the moisture levels we’ve had so any severe storm had the potential to tap into that moisture.”

Sunshine Coast District Director Tony Hucker said the flooding event made it unsafe for patients to stay overnight.

Mr Hucker said three crews of paramedics arrived about 5.30pm on Wednesday and stayed on scene until 1am Thursday.

“No one was hurt or injured, it was more a routine transfer,” he said.

“From what I saw there was water everywhere … it was on the floors and you could see it coming through the ceilings.

“It was a really heavy downpour and I think it overran the spouting system that was there.”

Sunshine Coast District Director Tony Hucker. Picture: Sam Turner

Due to the private hospital housing mostly mental health and rehabilitation patients none of the people transferred were in an acute phase of their illness.

All patients were mostly older and were mobile according to Mr Hucker while others had to be transported by stretcher.

Up to 17 patients were transported nearby hospitals while others were discharged.

Mr Hucker said the hospital momentarily lost power with Energex helping while fire and State Emergency Service crews also attended.

Flooding in Emerald St, Cooroy. Picture: Esther Rijkenberg

An Eden Private Hospital spokeswoman said management was actively working to fix the damage caused by the storm and expected the hospital to reopen and resume operations this week.

“Eden Private Hospital will continue to work with public and private healthcare providers for the transfer of patients back to Eden Private once repairs to areas impacted are assessed and repairs are complete,” she said.

Cooroy resident Brendan Lewis said he was working at IGA on Emerald St when he saw flash flooding rise quickly at 5.20pm on Wednesday.

Flooding hits Emerald St, Cooroy, on January 2. Picture: Brendan Lewis

“The water rose in a few minutes and then took about half an hour to fully subside,” he said.

“The water nearly came into the cars that were parked out the front.

“A lady said that it was a few cm below the door.”

Mr Lewis said he’d never seen flooding like it on Emerald St.

“It was pretty close (to the IGA), it came about halfway way Into the foyer and about a 1m or two from the door,” he said.

Cooroy recorded 108mm since 9am on Wednesday.

Originally published as Eden Private Hospital floods, 31 patients evacuated as storm causes havoc in Cooroy