Desperate rescue as two men are found clinging to the side of their submerged car in raging floodwaters
- Men caught in floodwaters at Miepoll, northern Victoria
- Rescued on Friday night after they became bogged
Two men have been dramatically rescued from fast moving flood waters in Victoria’s north after they were spotted clinging to the back of their vehicle.
The duo, from New South Wales, were travelling along O’Farrell Rd near Miepoll about 10.20pm on Friday night when their car became bogged.
The men, aged 73 and 46, were spotted by police climbing onto the side of their car as flood waters rapidly inundated the vehicle.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said they were pulled to safety by SES volunteers in a boat and told rescuers they had driven into what they thought was a ‘large puddle’.
‘Their car quickly became bogged and the water level began rapidly rising as they called emergency services for assistance,’ she said.
Both were taken to hospital for observation.
Two men, aged 73 and 46, were found clinging to their vehicle in fast-moving flood waters near Miepoll, in Victoria’s northeast, on Friday night. Picture: Victoria Police.
The rescue came as residents in Victoria’s northeast were told to brace for flash flooding as heavy rainfall lashed the region.
Minor flooding at Seven Creeks, where the men were rescued, was reported by the Bureau of Meteorology and, as of Saturday morning, is easing slowly.
An SES spokesman said driving through floodwaters ‘could be the last decision you ever make.’
‘Most people underestimate the dangers of driving through floodwater as you may not be able to see other hazards in large bodies of water such as potholes, debris, and broken roads,’ he said.
‘In regional areas where there are no roadside barriers, cars can easily get swept away into neighbouring properties and other stationed cars due to the velocity of the water flow.’
