A huge multi-agency search for an elderly man believed to have been swept away by ‘raging’ floodwaters at a camping site on the New South Wales mid-north coast has been suspended.
Emergency services were called to Bretti Reserve on Thunderbolts Way – about 25 kilometres north of Gloucester – about 10pm on Saturday, March 29, after the Barnard River broke its banks.
A PolAir crew landed at the campground which was surrounded by floodwaters. Police were told an SUV towing a caravan had been swept into the floodwaters a short time earlier, when the male driver reportedly attempted to cross a causeway.
The following, the vehicle was located; however, the driver – a Sydney man believed to be aged in his 70s – has not yet been found.
SES volunteers carrying out a medical resupply to an isolated resident near Casino over the weekend. PIC: NSW SES
NSW Police Inspector Nick Seddon told the ABC that police divers had been able to get into the car.
“The car was searched and the gentleman who was inside the car was not located,” he said. “Effectively what this means is he’s either been able to get out of the car while being swept away, or has been washed away by floodwaters.”
Manning-Great Lakes Police carried out a multi-agency search operation involving PolAir, Marine Area Command, and members of the NSW SES, RFS, and VRA.
The search continued during daylight hours until this Wednesday afternoon when it was suspended.
Kerry Gawley. who has lived near Bretti Reserve for more than a decade, said the Barnard River rose to record heights.
“It’s risen to 8.4 metres, that’s the highest we’ve ever seen it,” she told the ABC. “It was just rushing and raging.”
Ms Gawley said she called emergency services after her husband saw a caravan floating downstream in floodwaters on Saturday evening.
“They just happened to turn around to see [the caravan] coming backwards,” she told the ABC. “Floodwater comes so fast, just a split second and you’re gone … he’s just got caught in the water and been washed all the way down.”
Authorities have renewed calls for motorists to avoid driving through floodwaters.
SES Chief Superintendent for the NSW North West Stuart Fisher told the ABC that volunteers were ‘getting six or seven flood rescues a day at the moment from people being silly’.
“[People are] trying to drive through floodwaters or going through areas where they’re getting bogged,” he said. “We just ask everyone to please do not attempt to go through floodwaters.”
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