Heroic rescue as floodwater traps couple in car

A Sunshine Coast couple narrowly escaped disaster when their vehicle became submerged in rapidly rising floodwaters in Nambour, thanks to the swift actions of local towing company owner Mike Clayton and his team. 

Michelle Smith, 57, and her partner Roger Bond, 59, were en route to the airport early Monday morning when their red dual-cab ute encountered unexpected floodwaters on Bli Bli Road. The area had just experienced a record-breaking 365mm deluge, causing Petrie Creek to rise rapidly and inundate surrounding roads. 

Security footage captured the harrowing moment the couple’s vehicle became trapped, with water quickly reaching the windows and rendering the doors inoperable. Ms. Smith later recounted asking her partner if they were going to die as the ute filled with water.  

Fortunately, the incident occurred just outside Clayton’s Towing headquarters. Mike Clayton and his staff were already on-site, attempting to move their own vehicles from the encroaching floodwaters, when they noticed the stranded ute. Recognising the urgency, they immediately sprang into action. 

Mr Clayton described the scene: “They were just sitting there... we were like ‘get out,’ but she was just sitting there... the windows wouldn’t work and the look on her face you won’t forget... it was just a look of ‘I’m done’ situation.” 

 After several tense moments, the team managed to force open the back door and pull the couple to safety. Mr Clayton carried Ms Smith through the murky waters to dry land. Reflecting on the rescue, he said, “They were so happy.” 

The couple’s ute was perilously close to being swept into a nearby gully, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Mr Clayton, a veteran of many floods, noted that this was the worst he’d seen in 40 years, with water levels rising faster than ever before. 

Mr Clayton has been hailed as a hero. However, he remains humble about his actions, focusing instead on the importance of community and swift response in times of crisis.

Mike Clayton and his staff were already on-site, attempting to move their own vehicles from the encroaching floodwaters