Firefighters and SES rescue stranded families - VIDEO - Hunter Valley
Published: 08 Jul 2022 01:22pm
A joint Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) and State Emergency Service in-water team has rescued two families in separate operations in the Hunter flood zones.
Strike Team Charlie One, comprising two FRNSW in-water experts and two SES technicians, arrived at an isolated farm at Millers Forest near Raymond Terrace around 10am today.
Its mission was to rescue a mother and her two children, aged 11-months and three-years, who were unable to escape rising floodwaters on their Raymond Terrace Road property.
The rescue team negotiated its way through submerged fences in a powerboat to reach the family.
The in-water technicians waded out to the residents and fitted them with life jackets before ferrying them to dry land where NSW Ambulance paramedics were able to assess their conditions.
In another rescue around 7pm last night, the same team used an SES Unimog all-terrain truck to travel across floodplains at Louth Park, near Maitland, to reach a father, his two teenage daughters and their two dogs, stranded on a property.
When the truck couldn't go on, the team deployed Arkangel flood boats to complete the journey, using floodlights to locate the isolated farmhouse.
The rescue technicians then paddled their way back out with the family and their pets on board.
Media Note - the stills linked to this report relate to the Millers Forest incident, whilst the video available here: https://vimeo.com/727991510/dd3ecf8f40 relates to the Louth Park operation. [external link]
Updated: 08 Jul 2022 02:48pm
Related safety topics
Having a home escape plan and a working smoke alarm increases your chances of getting out safely.
Details about this incident may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice.
For all life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000)
For flood information, warnings or requests for non-life threatening assistance, call the SES on 132 500 or visit the NSW State Emergency Service website here. [external link].
For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link]