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Five-year-old boy dies in floodwaters in NSW central west
| 24.09,22. 10:52 PM |
Five-year-old boy dies in floodwaters in NSW central west
The body of a five-year-old boy has been found in a submerged Hilux after the car was swept away in flood waters in central west New South Wales.
A desperate search has been on for the boy since about 11pm last night when the four other people in the car with the boy were found clinging to trees after the Hilux became submerged at the Genaren Creek crossing in Tullamore, near Parkes.
The man, woman and two children were found by people who escaped a second car that was also inundated by floodwaters and notified police the boy had gotten trapped.
Rescuer Tevita Navara, who was inside the second car, heard the family as they yelled for help.
"For me, I felt sad because I've got my kids and I've got my wife," he told 9News.
"When I heard the kids' voice down there, I was thinking about my kids.
"I said 'I can't leave them there'".
The family had been stuck there for about three hours after breaking free of the Hilux.
A boat was used to rescue the group - a woman, man, boy and girl - who were then taken to Dubbo Base Hospital for observation.
Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers, Fiona Aveland and her husband, were among the first responders on scene.
Aveland said the father who escaped the Hilux was "distressed" by what was an "awful" situation.
"He wanted help for his wife and daughter, they were on another tree," she said.
Aveland said emergency responders on the other side of the creek rescued them in a tinnie.
RFS volunteer Craig Williams said the wife looked "buggered".
"Poor little thing," Williams said.
"Obviously had been hanging on for that long, I don't think she would have had long left."
The 28-year-old mother was taken to Dubbo Hospital in a critical condition.
Her husband and two of their children were treated in hospital and are in a stable condition.
The boy's body was found about 3pm today after an extensive search.
The car has been retrieved and police are investigating.
Tullamore has been hit with heavy rain since Wednesday, with 100 millimetres in just one day flooding the Bogan River.
At Gunnedah in the state's north-west, residents were prepared as levels peaked this morning but the situation could worsen on Tuesday with another front on the way.
In Lismore, the downpour well below what was expected.
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