Australia: Bystanders dive into floodwaters to save trapped driver

Loading the video No Comment Video. Australia: Bystanders dive into floodwaters to save trapped driver Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 22/10/2026 - 12:12 GMT+2 Two men plunged into raging floodwaters in Queensland, Australia, to save a driver from a sinking four-wheel-drive on Thursday. The dramatic rescue ended in an emotional embrace. Australian Broadcasting Corporation reporter Will Murray was covering the floods when a vehicle stalled after entering deep water on Buchanan Road. As it began to sink, Murray handed his phone to camera operator Liz Pickering, called emergency services and waded into the floodwater. Another bystander quickly joined him. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The pair first tried to open the nearest door, then climbed onto the vehicle and considered smashing the rear window. Murray eventually forced open the rear passenger-side door, allowing the driver to escape before the ute disappeared beneath the water. Footage captured the dramatic rescue, followed by an emotional moment as the relieved driver embraced one of the men who helped save him. ABC camera operator Liz Pickering said the two men “undoubtedly saved that man’s life”. No serious injuries were reported. About 170 millimetres of rain had fallen in Morayfield, where severe flooding forced road closures and left the shopping centre largely inaccessible. Queensland authorities warned motorists not to drive or swim through floodwaters, warning that vehicles can quickly become trapped or swept away. Australia Brisbane Floods Rescue Extreme weather Top stories Now playing Next Australia: Bystanders dive into floodwaters to save trapped driver Now playing Next Serbia: Student protesters flood Belgrade ahead of snap elections Now playing Next Yemen: Tanks fire as fighting erupts on the outskirts of Taiz Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | October 22nd, 2026 – Midday Now playing Next Moment Colombian authorities seize 7.6 tonnes of cocaine bound for Europe Now playing Next 'Everything' in Ukraine is now a target for Putin, says EPP MEP Now playing Next Public order a 'big failure of the government', says French MEP Now playing Next Hansel and Gretel in the mountains: parents abandon sons Now playing Next Disappointed after meeting, French unions call for 5 November action Now playing Next Looted Paris shop owner: ‘10 years of work destroyed’ Now playing Next Macron decries 'stupid comments' by foreign leaders on France protests Now playing Next Italy deploys 500 troops to Milan as part of new security decree Now playing Next French police union to sue government over mishandling of riots Now playing Next Russian strikes kill 7 in Ukraine after US envoy meets Putin Now playing Next Europe Today: France under fire as Macron faces backlash, Putin opens door to Ukraine peace talks Now playing Next Tesla's profit drops as it explores a possible merger with Musk's other public company, SpaceX ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment Greece: Thousands flood Athens streets in education protest No Comment Dussehra: Giant effigies of demons go up in flames in India No Comment Nine Emperor Gods Festival: Devotees walk across burning embers for good luck No Comment Large crowds watch as rescuers try to save stranded shark in South Korea Europe News Disappointed after meeting, French unions call for 5 November action EU News EU journalism prize awards investigation into human rights abuse at Italy’s migrant centres in Albania Ukraine Zelenskyy backs freezing front line as first step towards Ukraine ceasefire Qatar in Motion Qatar in Motion | Made in Qatar: Local brands with global ambitions Europe News Milei reignites war of words with Sánchez as Spanish PM declares himself ‘leftie and proud’ Business Feeding Our Tomorrow: how India’s women-led, sustainable farming is reaching Europe Art Dialogue in the dark: David Bowie meets Nina Simone at Steve McQueen's exhibition at Guggenheim Bilbao East-West Connect This country aims to attract €18B in cleaner energy investment ADVERTISEMENT Europe News EU probes whether Booking.com is doing enough to tackle fake listings and phishing scams Europe News In apparent swipe at Trump, Macron slams 'stupid comments' by foreign leaders on France protests Russia Kremlin open to new Ukraine peace talks as Russia frees US teacher Stephen Hubbard Europe News Europe weighs energy-saving measures as Middle East crisis deepens Europe News Germany renews its hard stance on EU budget demanding hundreds of billions in cuts Earth News UK approves drilling at controversial North Sea gas field despite environmental concerns Culture news Restorers work to preserve frescoes in one of Pompeii’s grandest Roman houses Economy Former Hungarian central bank chief György Matolcsy detained in financial fraud probe ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT