Emergency crews have been kept busy over the past week, responding to multiple flood-related incidents across Queensland.
In a recent incident, three juvenile girls, aged between 13-years-old and 14-years-old had been reportedly swimming with a group of other children in the flooded Barron River just after 5pm on December 22, when they became trapped.
They sought refuge in a tree which was surrounded by water.
Queensland Fire and Rescue (QFR) swiftwater rescue firefighters rescued the girls about 7pm, and no one was injured during the incident.
Just one day earlier on December 21, a 65-year-old man and his dog were rescued after their truck became stuck in floodwaters at Granite Creek on Hansen Road in Walkamin.
Emergency crews were called to the incident about 8pm to find the man and dog on the roof of the prime mover.
They were rescued by QFR swiftwater rescue firefighters around an hour later and taken to hospital for assessment.
QPS Senior Sergeant Derek Garner of Mareeba Police Station said it serves as another reminder, that it does not matter what car you drive, or how big it is, you can still be swept away in floodwaters.
“You cannot drive into floodwaters with the mindset of, ‘it’ll be all right’. We’ve seen time again where people think they can make it across, and then end up needing to be rescued,” Senior Sergeant Garner said.
“Poor decisions can put your life, your family’s lives and emergency services’ lives at risk every time you decide to risk it.”
Meanwhile, a 45-year-old man was rescued after becoming stuck in floodwaters near Bundaberg on December 19.
Emergency crews were called to Farnsfield Road in North Gregory near Bundaberg around 8pm, after being alerted that a motorist was caught in floodwaters.
The man was retrieved from the water by QFR swiftwater rescue firefighters more than an hour later and assessed by paramedics on scene.
After checking he was ok, police determined the man had driven past multiple road signs before running into trouble.
He was issued two infringement notices for driving without due care and attention, and disobeying road access signs.
He was fined $838 and lost 6 demerit points.
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Three juveniles are rescued from a flooded Barron River on December 22.
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A truck driver and his dog are rescued from floodwater at Walkamin on December 21.
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A motorist is rescued from floodwater at North Gregory near Bundaberg on December 19.