In brief
In the midst of a sudden flood in Morayfield, Queensland, an ABC Television correspondent named Will Murray was in the right place at the right time to save a driver from a sinking SUV. The 24‑year‑old AFC journalist leapt into deep water without hesitation, helping the vehicle’s occupant escape a fast‑ascending tide. Murray said he received no assistance from officials, and that the only option was to act instantly before the car fully submerged. This incident underscores the growing risk of sudden flooding in coastal towns and the bravery of everyday heroes.
When heavy rains burst through the roofs of Queensland’s Morayfield on Saturday, a 24‑year‑old ABC Television correspondent, Will Murray, was documenting the unfolding storm for the national audience. One moment later, a white SUV plunged into a rapidly rising waterway across its path.
Responding to the vehicle’s sinking, Murray sprinted to the scene, jumping headfirst into the flood. “There was no thinking involved,” Murray told the BBC; he was simply aware that the man inside could drown before the car was fully submerged. In under a minute, he was pulling the driver to safety, “better that you jump in and give it a crack” he remembered adding. The prompt, instinctive act prevented a tragedy that could have resulted in loss of life.
The flood was caused by the Queensland government’s record‑breaking rainfall. 24‑hour precipitation levels reached several millimetres across the state creating localized, sudden maritime events similar to those that have bled into Australian news headlines during recent years.
Local authorities are still assessing the total impact of the flood, but the quick intervention by Will Murray and a nearby bystander has been widely praised. Reporters’ ability to capture live moments—combined with quick on‑scene action—highlights the essential role of journalism in both informing and protecting communities.
Stay tuned for live updates and community maps that will track flood levels in Queensland.
