Swift water crews called to multiple rescues as flash flooding hit

A surge of water trapped several people in their homes and caught a number of motorists off guard, with a Laidley resident waiting for hours for a swiftwater rescue team to take him and his dog to safety.

It was a sleepless night for Kayne Muller, who had an alarm set every hour so he could get up and check the flood water that was creeping closer to his home.

The Laidley resident had spent less than a year in his Old Mulgowie Road home with his great dane companion Azaura but the pair had already got through two major flooding events earlier this year.

Both times the flood water came within less than a metre of inundating his property but this time he wasn’t so lucky.

By about 5am water had entered his house and within an hour it was up to his knees.

Laidley resident Kayne Muller and his great dane Azaura, who were both rescued after their Old Mulgowrie Road home was flooded in the early hours of May 13, 2022.

Forced to take refuge on a ledge in his shed, Mr Muller said he and Azaura called for help about 7am, but were foreced to wait until about 9.30am for a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services swiftwater team to rescue him.

“We had to walk through flood waters and it was past my chest almost up to my neck,” he said.

“One of the swiftwater rescuers had to put my dog on his back.”

Now safe and dry land at a family friend’s house in Laidley, the 25-year-old said he has nothing left but a bag of clothes and a bag of things for his dog.

“I’ve definitely lost my house, the water is probably up to the roof by now,” he said.

“I’ve never seen anything like it, I’ve only moved here about a year ago and I’m all by myself.

“I thought I was going to be alright, the last few times it came to about half a metre from the house so I thought I would be OK. This time it eclipsed that by a mile.”

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services officer and a SES volunteers were called to retrieve Mr Muller, who was trapped inside the structure by rising flood water on rural property on Old Mulgowie Road.

The person called for help about 7am but it took several hours before emergency services could navigate the floodwater safely.

On the north side of the town swift water technicians deployed an inflatable platform and rescued three people trapped in a car on Old Laidley Forest Hill Road.

The motorists called for help shortly after 8am after they became stuck in rising floodwater.

Later a call for help people stuck in a car in rising flood water near the intersection of White Road and Patrick Street.

Three QFES crews responded and walked the motorists to safety.

Swiftwater rescue teams in action across the Lockyer

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services swift water crews have been called to multiple rescues in Laidley on Friday morning.

One crew is working to retrieve a person who was trapped inside the structure by rising flood water on rural property on Old Mulgowie Road.

The person called for help about 7am and the crews are currently working on a plan to save them.

Three QFES officers and one SES volunteer are at the scene.

A flood camera captures the moment people attempt to help a driver stranded in floodwaters at Laidley.

On the north side of the town swift water technicians deployed an inflatable platform and rescued three people trapped in a car on Old Laidley Forest Hill Road.

The motorists called for help shortly after 8am after they became stuck in rising floodwater.

A fresh called or help has come in from people stuck in a car in rising flood water near the intersection of White Road and Patrick Street.

Three QFES crews are en route.

Multiple roads in the Lockyer Valley under water and QFES has advised motorists to drive with caution and stay on dry land.

An emergency alert has been issued by the Lockyer Valley Regional Council.

It advises that flash flooding is occurring in the Lockyer Valley and water levels are rising rapidly from early this morning.

Residents should warn others and move to higher ground if safe to do so, or go to a place of shelter.