Aussie battler’s classic response as he is rescued

February 28, 2022 Ava

A rescue of two Lismore residents from fast-rising floodwaters has been broadcast on live television with one of the elderly locals delivering a classic Australian response to the crisis.

John, 86, was helped onto a boat by Seven News reporter Bill Hogan as he walked along the Bruxner Highway when floodwaters forced him to leave his house of five decades.

After struggling to climb aboard because of arthritis in both hips, John was asked how he felt about the deluge and replied: ‘I’d rather not talk about it… good to see some rain though’.

He then pointed to where he had walked from, which was entirely underwater, and said he had seen quite a few floods in his 56 years at the property.

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Rescued of Lismore residents have been going on throughout Monday amid record breaking floods (pictured)

‘We’ve been waiting at the house since 9 o’clock but these fellas (the rescue crews) were busy, they do a wonderful job don’t you think.’

‘We can’t grumble, there’s always someone worse off isn’t there,’ he added.

Rescues of Lismore residents have been carried out throughout Monday as a record breaking torrential downpour cause rivers in the area to break their banks.

Kate Davis climbed onto the roof of her house on Casino Street, South Lismore, with her husband and children before dawn on Monday as water overwhelmed their home after the Wilson river breached its levee.

The family has been waiting six hours for help, taking shelter under their solar panels and planning an escape on their boogie boards.

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John, 86, after he was helped aboard the boat as he walked across the Wilson River bridge in the background (pictured)

‘About 12 o’clock last night, we were ankle deep in water and by three this morning it was lapping at our two-storey balcony,’ Ms Davis told the Nine Network on Monday.

‘By 4.15 we were on the roof.’

‘It was dark. We just grabbed shoes and whatever floatation devices we could find and popped the kids on the roof and called for help.

‘We have been sitting waiting ever since.’

Ms Davis says her children have been trying to keep warm and dry under a shelter attached to their solar panels, while many of their neighbours seek refuge in their roof cavities.

She has been posting about their situation on social media, but there has been no word from emergency services on when they will be rescued.

‘I have some neighbours next to us who are actually stuck in their roof cavity and they really need help, desperately, but we are still waiting.’

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast rainfall of up to 200mm, with a major flood warning for the Tweed River.

‘If another 200mm comes, we will all be swimming and I am talking about at least 50 people,’ Ms Davis said.

‘It is really, really scary.’

Ms Davis says her daughters are coping ‘surprisingly’ well.

‘We have our boogie boards. We will use our leg ropes to tie ourselves together and float if that is what it comes to.’

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The water had reached roof level by Monday afternoon with the peak not expected until late Monday night.

Source: Thanks msn.com