The devastation and destruction of the Hunter storm has continued with an 86-year-old woman killed in floodwaters yesterday.
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The woman was driving along Cessnock Road about 8.50am Wednesday when her car was swept away in the torrid waters of Fishery Creek.
An extensive search and rescue operation followed.
The silver Hyundai had been in a procession of cars following four-wheel-drives through the area.
The hatchback had tried to go around a red Falcon, which had stalled while travelling across the flooded part of the road, but was swept into the creek.
A small group of people witnessed the horror while about 10 others ran to try to rescue the women from the silver Hyundai.
“It was absolutely devastating to watch,” Stacey Wilcher, of Gillieston Heights, said.
“I saw about 12 cars turn around and come back because of the flooding water but one car tried to make it through and it didn’t.”
Jarrod Lidbury also witnessed the horrible desperation of the scene.
“She travelled for a bit then washed off the road completely,” he said.
“About 10 of us ran around to the other bank where the car floated to.
“Four blokes jumped in the water and all of us with first aid training stayed on the bank.
“She couldn’t get out so I ran to get a hammer and shifter. By the time I got back it was too late.
Mr Lidbury said a fireman was yelling at the driver to wind down her window but to no avail.
“She tried to open the door but the water kept pushing it shut. The water was absolutely freezing. If we didn’t get out when we did, we would’ve been the next casualties.”
Four men were also washed away while trying to save the occupants of the car but were later rescued.
Using sonar technology, divers found the car several hundred metres downstream about 6pm with the body of the single occupant inside.
Inspector Brian Tracey from Maitland police said, that despite the honourable intentions of the four good Samaritans, people should never enter floodwaters.
“I’m not going to question the judgement of the people who tried to rescue them [the women] because they thought they were doing the best at the time and it was very brave,” Inspector Tracey said.
“But people should not go into floodwaters, they are very unpredictable, they are full of snags and things that just cannot be determined.
“These people were trying to do the right thing but they got into trouble themselves.
“There is still plenty of floodwater on the way from the rain here in Maitland and further towards Dungog, and it’s just so unpredictable.
“We can’t say how much water is going to come through and that’s the hazard of rising floodwaters, so if people go in they are only going to get themselves in danger as was witnessed here today.”