Three people rescued from sinkhole - Moree
Published: 24 Mar 2021 11:57pm
Three people were lucky to be alive after they were rescued by Fire and Rescue NSW from a large sinkhole that opened up beneath them as they were standing near the Mehi River in Moree yesterday.
Firefighters from Narrabri Fire Station had attended Moree Hospital for an automatic fire alarm and when walking back to their vehicle heard cries for help coming from near the riverbank on Alice Street at 11.57pm.
They discovered three people were trapped in the sinkhole and immediately got to work utilising land-based flood rescue gear they had received following the completion of training in Tamworth recently.
One man was able to climb out of the sinkhole, while firefighters safely rescued the remaining two people, a man and a woman.
They were all lucky to escape injury.
It is believed the people were standing near the river watching the flood waters when the sinkhole swallowed them.
Narrabri Crew Leader Jason Anderson said that they were lucky to escape with their lives and reiterated that people should not venture into or near swollen rivers or floodwater, as this is an example of how conditions during floods can change rapidly.
Updated: 30 Jan 2023 09:15pm
Related safety topics
It“s the law to have at least one working smoke alarm installed on every level of your home.
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]
Stations nearby
179 Balo Street, Moree NSW 2400
19 Geddes Street, Warialda NSW 2402
44 Finch Street, Bingara NSW 2404