AS the April 2015 superstorm raged across the Hunter, an image of a seriously ill baby, ferried across the rushing floodwaters to hospital, captured the sense of resilience and disaster in a single frame.
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Krystle Mordue and her young baby Chelsea, who was born premature and relied on an oxygen supply to survive, were marooned at Gillieston Heights when the rising waters covered all roads in and out of the suburb. When the power failed, Chelsea’s oxygen supply shut off and her mother knew she had to get her baby to hospital.
On April 22, 2015, the Mordues were transported by fire truck, then boat, then ambulance to Maitland Hospital.
“It was unbelievable, I’ll never forget it,” Ms Mordue said. “We were so lucky the (emergency services) did the best they could with us.
“Mum still talks about (paramedic Cameron Powell) to this day.”
Two years on and Chelsea is off the oxygen, totally mischievous, inquisitive and nicknamed “the beast” by her mother.
“You can’t stop her, she’s built tough,” Ms Mordue said.
The April 2015, superstorm brought record rainfall that some parts of the Hunter had not seen in more than a century. The resulting flood left about 2000 Gillieston Heights residents stranded for about a week
Four people died, including a woman whose car was swept away near Maitland and three people who were killed in flooding in Dungog.