You set out to cover a weather story, expect a few wet shoes, and end up pulling a drowning man out of a sinking vehicle. That is exactly what happened to ABC journalist Will Murray during the severe flash floods that lashed south-east Queensland.
Heavy storms dropped nearly 170 millimeters of rain in just a few hours around towns like Morayfield and Caboolture, north of Brisbane. Roads vanished beneath rushing water. Drivers misjudged the depth. One moment Murray was working behind a camera crew documenting the rising creeks, and the next he was swimming through churning currents to save a life.
How the Brisbane Flash Flood Rescue Unfolded
It happened fast. A black four-wheel drive drove onto Buchanan Road in Morayfield, plowing into the murky water before stalling out. Within seconds, the vehicle lost traction, began floating, and started drifting downstream as water rushed into the cabin.
Murray and another bystander didn't wait for emergency services to arrive. They swam directly toward the sinking ute.
"When we got to the car we tried to open the closest door, no luck," Murray explained later, recounting the terrifying ordeal. They scrambled onto the back of the vehicle, trying to figure out how to break the rear window or pry open a door before the car went completely under.
Working quickly against the rising water pressure, Murray forced his feet against the car and yanked hard on the passenger side rear door. The door swung open, aided by the incoming water pressure, allowing them to pull the trapped driver out just moments before the vehicle vanished beneath the surface.
ABC camera operator Liz Pickering, who watched the whole event through her lens, put it bluntly: "The pair of them definitely saved that man's life. No doubt about that."
Why Driving Through Floodwaters is Always a Gamble
Every single storm season, authorities issue the exact same warning: if it's flooded, forget it. Yet motorists continue to take risks.
People fundamentally misunderstand how little water it takes to move a heavy vehicle. Just 30 centimeters of moving water can float a standard car or pickup truck, sweeping it away like a toy. When water flows fast, tires lose contact with the roadbed instantly, turning a two-ton vehicle into an uncontrollable boat.
In this case in Morayfield, a severe, slow-moving thunderstorm dumped massive amounts of rain—up to 200 millimeters in six hours across parts of the Caboolture region. Infrastructure simply can't drain that volume of water instantly, turning quiet suburban streets into rapid rivers.
What You Need to Know About Flood Safety
If you find yourself facing flooded roads during unexpected storms, you have to make smart choices immediately. Here is what emergency management experts actually recommend:
- Never enter floodwaters: Walking or driving through water is the leading cause of flood-related deaths. You can't see hidden hazards, deep washouts, or broken pavement underneath.
- Turn around: If a road is barricaded or covered with water, don't test your luck. Back up and find a higher route.
- Act fast if trapped: If your car stalls in rising water and water starts entering the cabin, unbuckle immediately, roll down or break the windows, and get out onto the roof if doors are jammed by exterior water pressure.
Will Murray and his fellow bystander got lucky, and their quick thinking prevented a tragedy on a wet Thursday morning in Queensland. Next time you see water over a road, don't become the next breaking news story. Turn around.
ABC reporter Will Murray recounts 'terrifying' flood rescue near Brisbane
This video provides firsthand footage and an interview with ABC reporter Will Murray detailing the dramatic moments of the rescue in Queensland.
http://googleusercontent.com/youtube_content/1
