Police officer to be recommended for bravery award after Lachlan River flood rescue of two boys - ABC News

Two boys are lucky to be alive after they were swept away by floodwaters in the NSW central west

Key points:

• A police officer will be recommended for a bravery award after saving the lives of two boys
• Police say the boys jumped into the flooded Lachlan River and were swept away
• Sergeant Hunter swam to the boys and brought them back to to the riverbank

Police say the 11-year-olds jumped into the flooded Lachlan River at Condobolin, about 450 kilometres north-west of Sydney, on Saturday afternoon.

The fast-moving current swept them downstream for about 60 metres, before they were able to grab hold of a rope attached to an exposed log in the middle of the river.

They clung there while campers from a nearby caravan park called emergency services to the scene.

The Lachlan River is expected to flood at Condobolin this week, but is already swollen from recent rainfall.(ABC Central West: Mollie Gorman)

The boys yelled out they could not hold on any longer, so local officer Sergeant Joel Hunter put on a lifejacket, grabbed a flotation device and swam out to them.

Both boys were brought safely back to the riverbank where they were checked over by paramedics.

They have been safely returned to their parents.

The incredible rescue will see Sergeant Hunter recommended for a bravery award, said Central West Police District Chief Inspector Peter Atkins.

He called the action "heroic", and said "the outcome could have been tragic".

Floodwaters on the Forbes-Condobolin road.(ABC Central West: Mollie Gorman)

Flood watches remain in place

It comes as floodwaters on the Lachlan River continue to move downstream, with the level at Forbes slowly dropping.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said major flooding was now occurring at Cottons Weir and Jemalong.

The BOM expects the peak to reach Condobolin later this week, with moderate flooding likely.

Flood watches remain in place for a number of rivers across New South Wales, including on the mid-north coast, north-western and central inland regions.

Wheat paddocks should be getting harvested right now, but instead are slowly drowning in the flooded Lachlan River and its tributaries.(ABC Central West: Mollie Gorman)

Farmland has copped the brunt of the damage from this disaster, with crops like wheat and barley ready for harvest but slowly being inundated by water instead.

Even areas not at risk from floodwater are struggling with the wet weather.

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The Mayor of the Lachlan Shire Council, John Medcalf, said local farmers were racing to get crops stripped before more rain or flooding hits the region.

"They're trying to get contractors in or whatever they can do to get in there and get these crops off before the water comes down," he said.

"Once the water does come down it's going to be around for quite a while, they're talking even up to Christmas time, so that will be the end of [farmers'] income for this year."

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTExLTIxL3BvbGljZS1vZmZpY2VyLXByYWlzZWQtZm9yLWxhY2hsYW4tcml2ZXItZmxvb2QtcmVzY3VlLzEwMDYzNzYxMtIBKGh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMDA2Mzc2MTI?oc=5

2021-11-21 01:46:19Z
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