Mary Allford inquest day two: Top cop explains dangerous conditions in failed rescue

An Inspector has recalled the devastating day he was forced to make the tough call to end the police rescue effort of a Latrobe woman in the 2016 floods. INQUEST DAY TWO >>

Mary Allford's home where she died during flooding at Shale Road, Latrobe PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

INSPECTOR Shane LeFevre was the man forced to make the tough decision to call off the police rescue efforts of Mary Allford.

The frail 75-year-old was one of three people who succumbed to Tasmania’s devastating floods of 2016, unable to make it to the roof of her home to be winched to safety by a rescue helicopter.

Inspector LeFevre gave evidence on the second day of a two-week inquest into Mrs Allford’s tragic death.

In evidence he said he wasn’t rostered on the day of June 6, 2016, but recalled himself to duty after being alerted by a colleague at 5.30am that two elderly people were trapped in a residence at Shale Road, Latrobe.

Inspector LeFevre said rescuing Mary and Noel Allford, 79, was a priority for the group of Tasmania Police and volunteer search and rescue workers who came to help “at the drop of a hat”.

Household items near Mary Allford's home where she died during flooding at Shale Road, Latrobe PICTURE: CHRIS KIDD

But he said efforts to rescue the Allfords were hampered by the extreme weather.

Ultimately, rescuers were able to winch Mr Allford to safety by a rescue helicopter – but it was not safe to make other attempts to enter the A-frame property.

Inspector LeFevre said the water flow was “torrential”, with dangerous debris, and that it was impossible to see the house through the weather.

He instructed the Tasmania Police search and rescue workers, who were making repeated attempts to enter the house, to stand down.

The following day, rescuers decided the water had gone down enough to re-enter, with Australian Defence Force personnel providing a supporting role.

Mrs Allford’s body was recovered during those efforts.

Both Inspector LeFevre, and retired Detective Senior Sergeant David Chapman, spoke of the limited resources within the force.

Mrs Allford was one of three Tasmanians killed in the floods of 2016, along with 81-year-old Ouse farmer Trevor Foster and newspaper delivery driver Peter Watson, who died at Evandale.

During Mr Foster and Mr Watson’s inquests last year, the coroner heard of the limited swift water rescue capabilities of Tasmania Police at the time.

The inquest into Mrs Allford’s death, before coroner Simon Cooper, is expected to run until March 14.

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