Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Owen leaves trail of destruction in Qld
Ex cyclone Owen has weakened but heavy rain has destroyed crops in north Queensland, killed a teen who jumped into a flooded creek, and left drivers stranded.
December 17, 2018
EX-TROPICAL CYCLONE OWEN LEAVES A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION AND RESCUES.
* Dane Bracey, 18, dies on Sunday after he jumps into floodwater at Big Crystal Creek and is swept into rapids in Mutarnee, north of Townsville.
* A four-year-old-boy is pulled from floodwaters on the Gold Coast and revived on Sunday after he and his dad fell from a kayak into the Coomera River at Illinbah.
* Halifax, inland of Ingham, is hardest hit on the weekend, recording 680mm of rain in just 24 hours.
* Farmers in the area say cane fields are underwater and at risk of being destroyed.
* Rivers, creeks, causeways and lowing-lying areas flooded.
* A woman in her 40s is rescued from her stalled vehicle, and a three-metre crocodile lurking nearby, after she attempted to drive through floodwater on Saturday night.
* Two men who attempted to cross floodwater on the Darling Downs are rescued from their utes on the weekend.
* A woman driving with her five-year-old son calls police for help as floodwaters rose in Halifax on Saturday night.
* Queensland Fire and Emergency Services reports the SES responded to 700 calls for minor flood damage and sandbagging since Owen re-formed nine days ago.
* Statewide, the Queensland Ambulance Service says paramedics responded to 17 weather-related incidents since Wednesday, including head injuries and falls from roofs.