Chilling moment man and dog swallowed by floodwaters: 'He's gone'
The man was swept 500 metres downstream, with dramatic footage capturing it all.
A man and his dog are lucky to be alive after becoming trapped inside a car that was swallowed whole by floodwaters, in a horrifying incident that's been branded "an extremely close call".
Dramatic footage of the incident on Wednesday evening at Wedderburn, 217 kilometres north of Melbourne, shows the man, 60, drive his Ford Territory into deep floodwaters before becoming stuck, as shocked locals watch on.
As residents gather around the floodwater's banks, debating how they could assist the man, SES crews are then heard warning them to steer clear, deeming the risk too significant.
Man 'heading home' drives straight into floodwaters
"He was screaming out to people, 'what are you doing — get me out of here'," witness Belinda Baker told 7News.
Defying the instructions of the SES, another local man said he "wasn't prepared" to let the man be swept downstream.
"They wouldn't let me go to start with, and I just said bugger you, we've got to get him out. We either get him out now or we're looking for a body later, I said 'I'm not prepared to do that'," Chris Slide said.
Too late for Ford Territory
The footage then shows Slide back his ute into the raging deluge in a last-ditch rescue effort, but coming seconds too late, with the Territory being swept off a ledge and downstream.
People in the background can be heard repeating "he's gone" as the car is carried away in the water.
After being swept some 500 metres, the vehicle eventually became wedged and the exhausted driver managed to free himself and climb onto the roof, freeing his dog — a husky — in the process. The man was "very frail and really struggling" by the time rescuers were able to reach him.
Police issue stark warning
The incident prompted Victoria Police to issue a statement, warning residents not to enter floodwaters under any circumstances.
"Police are urging motorists not to drive though floodwaters after a man and his dog were lucky to escape injury in fast rising waters in Wedderburn yesterday," it said.
Since 6:00am yesterday to 10:00am today, our volunteers have responded to over 920 requests for assistance with heavy rainfall and storms across the state.
If you're on the road today, take care and look out for debris such as fallen trees. And remember - never enter floodwater. pic.twitter.com/gML7AvUbwy— VICSES News (@vicsesnews) January 2, 2024
"Officers have been told the man was driving along Tantalla Street when he drove into floodwaters and was swept away about 5.30pm. Emergency services were nearby and quickly responded finding the man and his dog on the roof of a Ford Territory, awaiting rescue.
"Police, Country Fire Authority and State Emergency Service personnel worked to rescue the pair who were thrown a rope and pulled to safety, as they scrambled to stay on top of the half-submerged vehicle."
The 60-year-old was treated in hospital and has since been released. The man's dog — that swam to shore during the ordeal — is also safe and well.
It's understood the driver was "was heading home" when he "unfortunately chose to drive through the flood waters".
"The water was about 3-4 feet deep and flowing extremely fast. It rose up very quickly, before sweeping his car into the creek," Sergeant Benjamin Huisman told the ABC.
"He was up to his chin in floodwaters and his dog was in there with him."
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