25-05-2025
Farmers, working dogs saved in dramatic drone-assisted rescue
There has been a lucky escape for two people and their working dogs after their property was inundated by floodwaters.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) sent in Strike Team Charlie — five in-water rescue technicians — after the property near old Burgess Creek, about 10 kilometres from Kempsey on the NSW Mid-North Coast, was cut off by flood water.
With all local landmarks underwater, it was up to the rescue crew to use a 'triangulation navigation' app to identify the property.
Once identified, it took the rescue boat two hours to reach the occupants.
Found at the flooded property was a man in his 60s suffering from mild hypothermia and a 32-year-old woman.
The man refused to leave his six working dogs behind, and with no room in the small rescue boat, the crew had to think outside the box to get the dogs to safety.
The crew tore down a bamboo fence to craft a makeshift raft, which transported the man and his six dogs.
In pitch black and facing a 2km paddle back almost blind, the crew were forced to find additional help.
Their team leader, who was back at the temporary base of operations, called in a fire crew from Wauchope who had training to use a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) or drone.
Using the drone with a handy built-in spotlight, the rescue crew were able to navigate their way out of the flooded waters.
Both the man and woman were transported to hospital for treatment and checks.
Strike Team Charlie leader, Inspector Gaven Muller, said the inventiveness of the firefighters was outstanding.
'I'm so proud of this team and the way it cared for those trapped people and their animals,' he said.
'Speaking over the radio, I told them, 'The drone's up, I've got you in my sights, just follow the light'.
'They said it was like a beacon and they knew they were heading in the right direction.
'Before long, they had reached safety and we managed to get the pair to hospital.'
