ABC Reporter and Bystander Rescue Driver From Flooded SUV Near Brisbane

An ABC reporter and a bystander rescued a driver from a sinking four-wheel-drive vehicle in floodwater at Morayfield, north of Brisbane, on October 22, 2026. Will Murray and Daniel Hainey swam to the stranded vehicle after it stalled and began drifting in rising water following heavy rainfall.

According to ABC News, approximately 170 millimeters of rain had fallen in the area since the morning. The rescue unfolded on Buchanan Road, where the driver had attempted to cross the flooded section at speed.

Murray, who was reporting from the area, initially called Triple Zero, Australia's emergency number. When the driver disappeared from view, the reporter decided to enter the water while his colleague, camera operator Liz Pickering, continued filming.

Murray described how the vehicle began moving almost immediately after entering the floodwater.

"I saw him drive in and immediately his car started floating downstream so I rang Triple Zero," said Murray.

The emergency operator asked Murray whether he could see the driver and whether the man appeared capable of escaping. The situation deteriorated rapidly, prompting Murray to hand his phone to Pickering before swimming toward the vehicle.

"On the phone the operator asked me if I could see the driver and if I thought he could get free."

Murray said he lost sight of the driver within seconds and decided that immediate action was necessary.

"Initially I could see him, but he disappeared from my sight within seconds so I made the call to jump in."

Once in the water, Murray and Hainey tried to open the vehicle's nearest door but could not get it to move. They climbed onto the back of the SUV and considered breaking a window to reach the trapped occupant.

"When we got to the car we tried to open the closest door, no luck, then got on the back of the car with the thought to break the back window," Murray said.

The rescuers then tried the rear passenger-side door. Murray braced his feet against the vehicle and pulled until the door opened, allowing the driver to move toward the exit.

"I thought to try the passenger side rear door first and put my feet against the car and pulled as hard as I could and with some luck the door swung open."

Murray believed the incoming water may have helped force the door open as pressure built inside the vehicle.

"I think water rushing in helped create some pressure to force the door open."

The driver managed to reach the open doorway, where Murray and Hainey pulled him into shallow water. All three survived, and emergency services arrived approximately 10 minutes after the rescue, according to Murray.

"All three of us gave each other a big hug and were just so relieved," Murray said.

The reporter said the experience was frightening but that he was grateful everyone had escaped safely. He also warned that floodwater can be deceptively dangerous, even when a flooded road does not appear particularly severe.

"It was very scary, but happy everyone is safe and relieved it is OK. I just witnessed how quickly it can go south and it is terrifying. Please don't drive into floodwaters."

Hainey, who had been out with his family, said he initially saw the vehicle without realizing someone was inside. He became concerned when he noticed movement at a window and watched the vehicle sink farther into the water.

"The car began to slowly sink deeper and deeper, and that's when I thought, 'Oh no, this is not looking good', so I started swimming in there," Hainey said.

Hainey described the driver as extremely fortunate to have escaped. The Queensland Fire Department advises residents not to swim in floodwater, which can pose serious risks even to people attempting a rescue.

"very, very lucky"

Pickering recorded the rescue while capturing footage of the flooded road. Murray credited the successful outcome to the intervention by both men.

"The pair of them definitely saved that man's life," Murray said.

After the rescue, Murray spoke with the driver, who said he had not seen the warning signs and did not realize how deep the water was. Murray emphasized that the depth and strength of floodwater can be difficult to judge from the road.

"We were chatting with the man and he was saying he didn't see the signage and didn't realise how deep it was," Murray said.

The vehicle disappeared completely beneath the water, illustrating the danger of attempting to cross flooded roads. Murray said the scene reinforced the need to avoid driving through floodwater, regardless of how manageable it may appear.

"I had no idea how deep it was and that's the lesson we keep hearing, isn't it, that you can't tell and you really couldn't; it didn't look particularly severe. But as you can see in the vision, the car completely disappears, it's clearly very deep in the middle there."

Murray also redirected praise away from himself and toward professional emergency responders, saying the incident gave him greater appreciation for their work.

"The adrenaline is still very, very high. I don't know how people do this regularly," Murray said.