Thread: People who die trying to cross flooded areas

Having experienced many wet seasons living in northern Australia, I know it's all too easy to underestimate the force of flowing water. Yes many are in a hurry to get home or get to their next scheduled camp, when patience is everything in the bush.

The idea that a raised air intake is like a snorkel for swimming, often brings people unstuck. Even if fully sealed it is always risky to make crossings above wheel height. In many ways it's actually safer not to have a snorkel because many crossings that require one are risky for reasons other than the engine breathing water.

Yes mate. Time and again,I have been out in orange doing welfare checks or checking water levels and had (mainly) lifted toypats driving around our vehicles to find the deepest water to test their snorkels in.
May 1st last year we had a few people drowned in a couple of hours in the same place,a well known low crossing.
That day the gateway motorway shut at 1430 due to weather and accidents. That sparked a cascading redirection of traffic across to the Bruce then old Gympie then northern road as people sought to get home.
A couple of mates left work mid afternoon and didn't get home until 0100 in the morning.
As I joined the traffic ,I saw wide eyed panic and people messing with their gps trying to recalculate a route home. More of the same as I activated our response. Ended up standing the group down about 1900 due to the danger. Those of us already there then started checking the numerous abandoned swamped vehicles.
Didn't even see that stuff in 2011!
Still scratching our heads.