An Australian TV reporter helped save a man’s life after jumping into floodwaters to rescue him from a sinking truck, with the dramatic moment captured on camera.
ABC News reporter Will Murray was covering severe flooding in Queensland on October 22 when a driver attempted to cross a submerged road in Morayfield, north of Brisbane.
The man’s four-wheel-drive vehicle stalled almost immediately and began drifting downstream before rapidly sinking into the water.
According to ABC News, Murray initially called emergency services after witnessing the incident on Buchanan Road. However, when the driver disappeared from sight, he decided there wasn’t time to wait for help.
Murray handed his phone to camera operator Liz Pickering and jumped into the floodwaters, where he was joined by another bystander, Daniel Hainey.
The two men swam to the vehicle and attempted to open the nearest door, but couldn’t get it to budge. They then considered breaking the rear window before Murray managed to force open the rear passenger-side door by bracing his feet against the vehicle and pulling with all his strength.
The driver was able to make his way to the opening, allowing the pair to pull him out and guide him into shallower water just before the vehicle disappeared beneath the surface.
Reporter describes terrifying rescue caught on camera
Speaking to the BBC afterward, Murray explained that “there was no thinking involved” once he realized how quickly the truck was sinking.
“Better that you jump in and give it a crack,” he said, reflecting on his decision to intervene.
Hainey, who had been out with his family when he witnessed the incident, said he initially didn’t realize someone was trapped inside the truck.
As the vehicle continued sinking, he spotted movement through a window and decided to help. He later described the driver as “very, very lucky.”
Pickering, who filmed the entire rescue, was convinced the two men had prevented a tragedy.
“The pair of them definitely saved that man’s life,” she said, according to Reuters.
After reaching safety, the three men embraced, relieved that everyone had survived. Emergency services arrived approximately 10 minutes later.
Murray said the driver told him he hadn’t noticed the warning signs and had no idea how deep the water was.
Around 170mm of rain had fallen in the area, creating dangerous conditions for motorists. Murray subsequently urged people never to drive into floodwaters after witnessing how quickly the situation turned deadly.
The incident follows other remarkable rescues, including a Chinese man who used a drone to save his neighbor from devastating floods in 2025.
More recently, a North Carolina EMT ran up a mountain to deliver blood to rescuers treating a critically injured climber.
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
