World News
Caught on Camera: TV Reporter Saves Driver From Sinking Truck in Australia
ABC journalist Will Murray was covering flooding near Brisbane when he spotted a driver in danger and jumped into the water to help save his life.
IllustrationAn Australian television reporter covering severe flooding near Brisbane found himself at the center of a dramatic rescue on Thursday when he jumped into rising floodwaters to save a driver trapped inside a pickup truck being swept away by the current.
The rescue, captured on camera by Australia's ABC network, took place north of Brisbane, where approximately 6.7 inches (170 millimeters) of rain had fallen since the morning.
The incident began when the driver attempted to cross a flooded road in his pickup truck. Within seconds, the vehicle became stuck, began drifting with the current, and slowly started to sink.
ABC reporter Will Murray noticed the danger and immediately called emergency services. "At first I could see him, but within seconds he disappeared from my line of sight, and that's when I decided to jump into the water," Murray recalled.
He handed his phone to camerawoman Liz Pickering and swam toward the submerged vehicle. Another man joined him, and together they attempted to open one of the doors, but were unsuccessful. After climbing onto the back of the truck and considering breaking a window, Murray decided to try the rear passenger-side door.
"I braced my legs against the vehicle and pulled with all my strength. Luckily for us, the door opened," he said. Murray suggested that water entering the vehicle may have helped equalize the pressure, allowing the door to open.
The two men managed to pull the driver from the truck and guide him to shallower water, moments before the vehicle disappeared beneath the surface.
Emergency crews arrived approximately ten minutes later. The driver explained that he had not noticed the warning signs and had underestimated the depth of the floodwaters. Murray acknowledged that the danger had not been immediately apparent to him either.
Pickering, who captured the entire rescue on camera, praised the two men for their quick response. "They absolutely saved that man's life," she said.
Hours after the incident, Murray admitted that his adrenaline was still running high. However, he downplayed praise for his bravery and instead expressed appreciation for emergency responders.
He ended with a simple but important warning to motorists: "Please, don't drive into floodwaters."
