A MAN has had a "lucky" escape, after he was rescued from the roof of his car when it was swept off a flooded causeway on the edge of Tamworth.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The man tried to drive through the flooded - and closed - roadway on Burgmanns Lane, but the force of the water washed his car downstream.
The Tamworth branch of the State Emergency Service (SES) and ambulance paramedics rushed to where the man was stuck at Goonoo Goonoo Creek, downstream of the Burgmanns Lane causeway, just after 1:30pm on Monday.
READ ALSO:
"He was washed down through the creek and came to rest in a paddock, he managed to get out through an open window and climb onto the roof, where he called Triple Zero," SES Deputy Zone Commander Superintendent Mitch Parker told the Leader.
"It is a really lucky escape ... it is unbelievable.
"It is a very dangerous situation and I cannot stress enough, do not drive through flood waters when you do not know how deep it is or what's lurking underneath."
Tamworth Regional Council closed Burgmanns Lane to all traffic on Monday morning, after heavy rain flooded the road and two metres of water was reportedly gushing across the causeway.
It is understood the man was not injured in the incident, but his ute wasn't so lucky.
Ambulance crews and the SES flood response team worked together to safely rescue the driver from the swollen creek.
Duty operations manager for NSW Ambulance, Inspector Paul McRae, said these types of rescues are extremely challenging.
"The conditions can change at any time and our priority is to get our patient out of the flood waters and to do it safely," he told the Leader.
"This was a great outcome for everyone involved."
Inspector McRae urged locals to listen to the warnings, and stay home during this wild weather unless absolutely necessary to go out.