Details of extraordinary flood water rescue – Trapped couple and their working dogs towed to safety on makeshift raft - Near Kempsey
Published: 25 May 2025 04:28pm
A Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) In-water crew has detailed how it has pulled off the extraordinary rescue of two people and their working dogs from a flooded, isolated farm near Kempsey, on the state’s mid-north coast.
Strike Team Charlie, five In-water rescue technicians from the north and mid-north coasts, was tasked on Friday afternoon with reaching the residents, stranded for three days on the property near old Burgess Creek, about 10-kilometres from Kempsey.
Upon arriving in the area, the Team leader set up base and the crew set off to locate the property.
With the local landmarks flooded, the crew used a triangulation navigation app to identify the farmstead and paddled two hours in its rescue boat to reach the man, in his 60’s, and a 32-year-old woman.
As they reached the couple, they realised the man was suffering mild hypothermia.
He refused to leave his six working dogs behind, so the crew ripped down a bamboo fence and crafted a makeshift raft.
They used firefighting cords to create leads for the dogs and tied the raft to their inflatable flood boat.
With the man also on the raft to calm his dogs, they began the trek back.
Facing a two kilometre paddle at night, the firefighters, based in northern NSW, identified their next challenge…how to find their way back in pitch black conditions.
Their team leader, back at the temporary base of operations, radioed another fire crew from Wauchope, trained to use a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) or drone, to assist.
The drone was flown to meet the In-water crew and their passengers and its in-built spotlight was activated to guide the paddlers through the flooded bush to the safety point.
The couple was then transported to Kempsey Hospital in another fire truck for treatment.
Strike Team Charlie Leader, Inspector Gaven Muller, said the resilience and resourcefulness of the firefighters was outstanding.
“I’m so proud of this team and the way it cared for those trapped people and their animals,” Inspector Muller said.
“Speaking over the radio, I told them, ‘The drone’s up, I’ve got you in my sights, just follow the light’.
“They said it was like a beacon and they knew they were heading in the right direction.
“Before long, they had reached safety and we managed to get the pair to hospital.”
Media note – Footage taken by the firefighters and footage from the drone itself is available here: https://vimeo.com/1087453907/1c912a2ae0?share=copy [external link]
Updated: 25 May 2025 04:48pm
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