About 12.00am, emergency services received a report from a member of the public that a Nissan Navara utility had been washed off a bridge on Bibbawarra Road near South River Road, floated downstream and became submerged. The driver, a man aged in his 60s, managed to exit the vehicle and seek refuge on a tree stump.
Police attended and observed that rising water levels posed an imminent risk to the man, who appeared distressed and dehydrated. Officers conducted an urgent risk assessment and established a safety line, which was used to provide the man with a life jacket.
As conditions deteriorated, a second safety line was set up. A decision was made for an officer to enter the water to rescue the man. Using a snatch strap, police and members of the public held the line securing Senior Constable Bragg-Walker, who donned a life jacket and entered the water where he reached the man and safely brought him back to the shore.
The man was uninjured and was taken to Carnarvon Hospital for a precautionary medical assessment.
Police are reminding the community not to drive, walk or swim through floodwater. Multiple road closures remain in place across the Mid-West Gascoyne. Motorists are urged to follow the directions of authorities, obey all road signage and drive safely according to the weather conditions.
