logo
Footage shows helicopter rescue airlifting residents stranded in NSW floods

Footage shows helicopter rescue airlifting residents stranded in NSW floods

The Guardian21-05-2025

Residents of the NSW mid-north coast have described their anxious wait to be rescued as unprecedented flooding struck the Manning River, inundating homes and businesses across the region. Sam Halloran posted this video on Facebook of a NSW police helicopter crew coming to their aid, and wrote: "We are now all out and safe including our two doggos"

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Terrifying moment car dangles precariously over sheer cliff drop sparking frantic mission to save occupants inside
Terrifying moment car dangles precariously over sheer cliff drop sparking frantic mission to save occupants inside

The Sun

time5 hours ago

  • The Sun

Terrifying moment car dangles precariously over sheer cliff drop sparking frantic mission to save occupants inside

THIS is the terrifying moment a car was found dangling over a cliff edge, sparking a nerve-shredding rescue mission. The white SUV was spotted teetering over the cliff by passersby, with its occupants moments away from a near-perilous fall. 5 5 5 The vehicle had reportedly swerved off the road after skidding on snow on the Xinjiang Duku Highway in western China. It was left dangling precariously with its rear left wheel elevated off the ground. A group of Good Samaritans found it in the precarious spot and pulled over to help. The SUV's driver was found apparently unable to reverse the car onto the icy roadside or get out of the vehicle safely. A woman, named only as Ms Deng by local media, filmed the rescue effort as she and her friends stopped to help. They had been on a trip to a lake as they drove up the mountain - and pulled over when they spotted the dangling car. The video begins with a look at just how fraught the situation is as the passersby approach the trapped vehicle. They begin to try and heave the car back to safety as more and more motorists park nearby to lend a hand. In a heart-stopping moment, one of the rescue party removes a suitcase from the back of the car - risking shifting more weight onto the car's front tyres. A rumble of thunder can be heard as the rescue mission becomes increasingly tense. Shock vid shows half-frozen paraglider who was sucked 5 MILES into sky by vortex & left shivering in -40C conditions But at least six men lend their strength to helping keep the car on the ledge, gradually pulling it back to safety. Eventually, they manage to heave the SUV further back from the brink. The rescuers then tie a rope onto the back of the car to properly drag it back to firm ground. According to reports, the two unnamed people inside the vehicle were unharmed in the bone-chilling ordeal. Authorities have warned motorists to be aware of weather conditions and to maintain a safe distance when driving, News X has reported. They also urge road users to park properly on the viewing platforms. The Duku Highway sits on what was historically known as the Silk Road. It is as well known for its stunning views and landscapes as it is for its dangerous driving conditions. Back in 2021, another car rolled off a cliff edge on the same highway. While several family members were able to leap out of the car in time, but one woman inside was unable to escape in time. She survived the fall, but suffered severe hip injuries. 5 5

Weather tracker: Fierce thunderstorms and big hailstones hit parts of Europe
Weather tracker: Fierce thunderstorms and big hailstones hit parts of Europe

The Guardian

time11 hours ago

  • The Guardian

Weather tracker: Fierce thunderstorms and big hailstones hit parts of Europe

This week, large parts of Europe have been affected by a series of intense thunderstorms, bringing torrential rain, damaging winds, and large hail. Central France was particularly badly affected by the severe weather, as powerful storm systems swept south-westward across the country. The departments of Loire and Puy-de-Dôme were among the hardest hit, experiencing significant damage from a particularly violent supercell thunderstorm that produced hailstones measuring up to 6cm in diameter – larger than ping-pong balls. The storm system also generated flash flooding, strong wind gusts, and reports of a localised 'mini-tornado', leaving widespread damage to infrastructure and vehicles in its wake. The storms were fuelled by warm, saturated air rising from the Mediterranean clashing with cooler air descending from northern Europe. This temperature contrast created significant atmospheric instability. Additionally, the orographic influence of the Vosges and Jura mountain ranges probably contributed to storm intensification by enhancing uplift. The powerful supercell formed under conditions of high wind shear, where changes in wind speed and direction with altitude encouraged the development of a rotating updraft. These intense updrafts lifted raindrops high into the atmosphere, where they froze and coalesced into large hailstones before falling to the ground with destructive force. Meanwhile, southern China has once again experienced heavy rainfall, triggering landslides, emergency evacuations, and widespread disruption to transport networks across the region. In Quanzhou County, approximately 300 cubic metres of debris, including soil and large boulders, tumbled down a hillside, blocking a major roadway and bringing traffic to a standstill. In Guilin's Lingui district, rainfall totals exceeded 207mm on Monday alone, highlighting the severity of the ongoing weather system and its impact on the local infrastructure and communities. Canada is currently battling more than 200 active wildfires, primarily across Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with approximately 2.3 million hectares burnt, most within the past week. At least half of these fires are classified as out of control, and have led to widespread evacuations. Thick smoke from the fires has significantly reduced air quality, spreading across a third of the US, and more recently have reached Europe. Hot, dry conditions, intensified by climate change, have been worsening the situation, and are expected to help fuel the fires over the coming days.

Wintery long weekend to deliver snowy start to Australia's ski season
Wintery long weekend to deliver snowy start to Australia's ski season

The Guardian

time13 hours ago

  • The Guardian

Wintery long weekend to deliver snowy start to Australia's ski season

The King's birthday long weekend could be the snowiest start to an Australian ski season in years, forecasters predict. Weatherzone said up to 70cm of snow could accumulate at the higher resorts by Tuesday evening, with at least 15cm to 30cm at lower resorts. A strong cold front in the Great Australian Bight will move in overnight, weatherzone meteorologists said, bringing with it dumps of snow. Jonathan How, from the Bureau of Meteorology, said south-east Australia can expect 'very cold' and windy conditions over the three-day weekend. Melbourne is forecast for a high of 15C on Saturday and a low of 6C on Monday. The weekend in Sydney should be mostly sunny with possible showers, with expectations of a high of 19C on Saturday followed by 8C on Monday, the bureau said. On Friday, a severe weather warning was issued for South Australia and south-west Victoria. Rain is predicted to break a record drought for the region. Damaging winds could top 90km/h on Friday, impacting parts of Victoria, including the Otway ranges and Mornington Peninsula. Gusts are predicted to increase and move into South Australia on Friday afternoon, reaching Adelaide and the Mount Lofty ranges. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The strong winds will continue on Saturday through Victoria and SA, the bureau said. The coldest weather will arrive in a second cold front, which will reach SA potentially on Sunday morning, bringing thunderstorms and hail. Adelaide has a predicted high of 17C on Saturday and low of 6C on Monday. Melbourne will not be impacted by the damaging winds on Friday, but the city will experience a strong wind chill and showers that will also reach the Yarra Valley and Macedon Ranges. The cold front will move into south-east NSW by Friday evening. How cautioned black ice will pose a risk over the weekend across NSW and Victoria. 'Take care if you are heading up to the slopes this weekend for the snow,' he said. Snow showers are predicted across the alps of Victoria and NSW, with snow levels in those regions predicted to drop to 1,500m by Friday. Snow levels will fall further on Saturday to about 1,150m. How said he expected high snow accumulation between 30cm and 70cm around alpine ski resorts, with the potential to move to lower regions. 'We may even see some blizzard conditions across some of those alpine peaks,' he said. On Sunday, snow levels are expected to fall to 800m in Victoria and NSW and 900m in western Victoria, including the Grampians. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion In Tasmania the snow level is predicted to drop to 1,000m on Saturday. Hobart is set for a chilly low of 4C on Sunday and maximum of 15C on Saturday. Despite what looks to be a snowy beginning to the ski season, a warm winter is forecast for Australia. Professor Emeritus David Karoly, from the University of Melbourne and the Australian Climate Council, said there is clear evidence of snow cover declining and snow season length reducing due to global warming. 'It's long-term warming due to human-caused climate change from burning fossil fuels,' he said. Karoly said last year's snow season started similarly to this year, with relatively good snow early on, but due to high temperatures and low snowfall there was not enough to maintain snow for the whole season. He said the impact of climate change from Australian and global emissions, with a new world record for climate pollution set in 2024, will cause continued decline in snow cover and snow season length until at least 2050 – the current target date for net zero emissions. 'By that stage there will be very, very few commercially viable ski areas in Australia even with increases in snowmaking on the resorts,' he said. He said lack of action from powerful countries like the US to reduce their emissions and the Australian government's expansion of the North West Shelf pas project 'will make it virtually impossible to meet its commitments for zero emissions by 2050'.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store