Hero Lismore cops recognised for flood rescue

Two Lismore police officers are among five volunteers who have received the State Emergency Service’s highest bravery award for their life-saving efforts during a daring flood rescue at Eltham near Lismore.

Leading Senior Constable Amanda Vidler and Senior Constable John Stirling were members of an SES team of ‘Swiftwater Technicians’, responding to reports of two farmers trapped in floodwaters at 2.20am on Sunday, 5 June, last year.

In driving rain and almost zero visibility, the team deployed a small flood-boat and began the search for the farmers, who’d become stranded whilst trying to guide cattle to high ground.

As SES team leader, Leading Senior Constable Vidler tasked a helicopter to provide light overhead as the floodwaters rapidly rose.

After 20 minutes of searching, the rescue crew spotted an extremely faint light and began paddling towards it, past distressed snakes, spiders and rodents.

They located the two exhausted farmers, their heads barely above the waterline, clinging for life.

‘To shine the torches in their faces and see they were still alive was the most satisfying part of it,’ Leading Senior Constable Vidler said.

‘They were shivering…we couldn’t even get the older farmer, the father, to talk…he didn’t have much left in him,’ she said.

Leading Senior Constable Vidler’s husband, Paul Barry, was also part of the SES crew.

He jumped into the water to rescue one of the men and remain with the other as the crew struggled to prevent the boat drifting into danger.

The first farmer was safely transported to high ground and the boat went back for their colleague and the second flood victim, also suffering hypothermia.

The rescue was hampered when the boat’s motor became entangled in a barbed wire fence.

‘I’ve never seen anything like it,’ Senior Constable Stirling said, ‘You’ve got this massive viaduct which was channelling thousands and thousands of litres of water through this tiny gap towards us.

‘It would try to throw us into the fence or sink the boat,’ he said.

‘I aimed the boat at the fence and gave it all I had to get over the top.”

The rescue workers freed the vessel and steered it back to SES Technician Barry, who had held the second farmer above the rising water for 15 minutes.

The man was dragged into the flood-boat which battled more fences in the torrent and headed for shore.

En route, the emergency team spotted the cows the farmers were trying to save.

The SES volunteers fashioned harnesses out of rescue equipment and placed them over the cows’ necks, gradually pulling the animals along with the boat until they reached safety.

The two Police officers and their three rescue colleagues yesterday received the NSW SES Commissioner’s Commendation for Courage during a special awards ceremony at Coraki.

Police and Emergency Services minister, Troy Grant, has congratulated all involved in the life-saving operation.

‘It was a brilliant effort by highly trained rescuers who refused to give up on the stranded farmers,’ Mr Grant said.

‘They left the safety of their own families and homes to go out into the dark, extremely dangerous conditions to bring them back, that’s the definition of courage in my book,’ the minister added.

The heroism shown by the SES crew also earned the praise of the Richmond Local Area Police Commander, Greg Martin.

‘We are extremely proud that two of our local Police Officers were an integral part of this rescue operation,’ Superintendent Martin said.

‘They understood there were great risks venturing into the floodwaters but they did it without a second thought because they knew those men needed their help.

‘I would like to commend all involved for their bravery and remind everyone that Senior Constables Vidler and Stirling are among many police who devote their spare time to support their communities through rescue organisations such as the SES and Rural Fire Service.”