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The dramatic rescue unfolded on Buchanan Road in Morayfield as ABC reporter Will Murray was filming the impacts of heavy flooding in the area, ABC News reported. Murray had just arrived with camera operator Liz Pickering when a black ute drove past them into the floodwaters and immediately began to float and drift downstream. The journalist alerted emergency services but realised there was no time to wait as the vehicle started sinking, prompting him to remove his shoes and glasses before swimming out to assist the driver.
A local bystander joined Murray in the water, and the two men managed to open the passenger side door after the driver’s side failed to budge, according to Murray’s account to ABC. They pulled the struggling motorist to safety moments before the four-wheel drive became fully submerged, video captured by the ABC crew showed. Pickering told the broadcaster that there was no doubt the pair had saved the man’s life.
Queensland has experienced widespread flooding from the intense rainfall event, with the Bureau of Meteorology recording 170 millimetres in Morayfield alone on Wednesday and more than 300 millimetres in parts of southern Queensland. The deluge led to multiple rescues overnight, including several instances where members of the public stepped in to help motorists trapped in rising waters, Queensland Police indicated. Authorities issued prepare-to-leave orders for residents in Burpengary and Burpengary East as Burpengary Creek rose rapidly above normal levels.
More than a dozen schools across the region closed on Thursday due to the flooding risks, ABC News figures show. At least 25 roads were affected in the Moreton Bay region, contributing to significant disruptions for local commuters. The Bureau of Meteorology warned that modern vehicles can become especially dangerous in floodwaters because electrical systems may fail and water pressure can trap occupants inside.
Murray described the ordeal as extremely scary and said it unfolded in a matter of seconds, leaving little room for hesitation, in an interview broadcast by ABC. He noted that he and his colleague watched the ute sink further and decided immediate action was necessary. The unidentified second rescuer, who appeared prepared in shorts, provided crucial assistance during the extraction.
No injuries were reported from the incident, and the rescued driver was able to swim to safety with his helpers, according to footage and reports from the scene. The event highlights ongoing dangers of driving through flooded roads, a message emergency services have repeatedly emphasised during this weather event. Police have urged motorists to turn around and find an alternative route when faced with water-covered paths.
