Sydney Storm Sparks Heroic Drain Rescue and Widespread Flood Havoc
A man is fortunate to be alive after plummeting into a six and a half metre deep drain during a ferocious storm that wreaked havoc across Sydney, prompting numerous flood rescues and nearly 500 emergency calls. The dramatic incident unfolded at Balmoral on Sydney's North Shore, where two strangers, Danilo Dimas and Angus Finlayson, bravely leaped into the uncovered drain to save the man's life.
Quick-Thinking Heroes Jump into Action
Dimas, a former Brazilian policeman who had relocated to Australia just three weeks prior and was working at a nearby bar, described the moment he saw the victim. "I saw just his face in the water and I just, I don't think and I jumped. And when I jumped, I realised that it's too deep," he recounted. Finlayson added to the harrowing account, stating, "I couldn't see anything in the blackness and Danilo just jumped straight in and held the guy up and then we pulled him out." The elderly victim was subsequently transported to hospital with minor injuries, thanks to their swift actions.
Storm Causes Unprecedented Chaos Across Sydney
The monster storm unleashed widespread chaos throughout Sydney, with surreal scenes such as jet skis navigating the streets of Fairfield after a nearby creek flash flooded. A local windscreen fitter stepped up to rescue neighbours as rivers surged through backyards, devastating carpets, furniture, and walls. Merry Shiba, one of 42 priority rescues, expressed the terror, saying, "Very, very scary. I was crying inside." Authorities were inundated with almost 500 calls for assistance, highlighting the scale of the emergency.
Residents Describe Worst Flooding in Decades
Many residents reported this as the most severe flooding they have witnessed in 60 years, with one stating, "This is the worst it's ever been. Like two hours, there was no warning." At Canley Vale, floodwaters arrived in waves, forcing desperate drivers to navigate past the Bunnings near Bankstown Airport. Milperra Road transformed into a boating hazard, while on Parramatta Road, pedestrians were compelled to wade through water as traffic was submerged across the city. Frustration mounted among locals, with one remarking, "You've got the council and all that. They turn around and say it won't flood, won't flood. Floods every year."
Weather Bureau Acknowledges Rapid Rainfall
The fierce weather caught many by surprise, with rainfall intensifying rapidly and lacking sufficient warning. Bureau of Meteorology's Jonathan How explained, "The rainfall came very hard and fast and there wasn't as much warning as they would have liked." This sudden deluge exacerbated the flooding, leading to the chaotic conditions and numerous rescues that defined the storm's impact on Sydney.
