Elderly man missing, feared drowned in NSW floodwaters
An elderly man is missing in floodwaters on the New South Wales far north coast, with fears the man may have drowned.
The 70-year-old's car was swept off a bridge in Kyogle, north-west of Lismore, but a search for the man has been suspended until first light Thursday.
Witnesses reported seeing the man clinging to a tree before they watched on in horror as he vanished in the floodwaters.
Police, divers and the Westpac helicopter were called out to the Leycester Creek scene following reports a car was washed away on Martin Bridge.
The 70-year-old driver did exit the car and was seen floating down the river clinging to a tree.
A flood warning was issued for the Kyogle region before 5pm on Wednesday with an average 109mm of rain falling on the region in just 18 hours.
According to Bureau of Meteorology figures, the Richmond River at Kyogle will peak near 12.2 metres by Wednesday night.
The river was believed to be somewhere near 4m in height when the elderly man went missing.
