TV Reporter Jumps Into Raging Floodwaters to Save a Trapped Driver — His Truck Vanishes Moments Later

An Australian television reporter was covering severe flooding when he suddenly found himself in the middle of a life-or-death rescue. After a driver’s truck became trapped in rising floodwaters, the journalist made a split-second decision to jump into the water and help save him.

Will Murray, a reporter for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), was reporting on heavy rainfall in Morayfield, north of Brisbane, on October 22, 2026, when he witnessed a truck drive into floodwater. The vehicle quickly stalled, began drifting and started to sink.

Murray saw the driver struggling inside and immediately called emergency services. But as the water rose rapidly, he realized that waiting for help might be too late.

He handed his phone to camera operator Liz Pickering and entered the water to reach the trapped man.

Two Strangers Risk Their Lives

Murray was joined by Daniel Hainey, a bystander who had been nearby with his family. Together, they swam toward the truck and tried to open the driver’s door, but it would not budge.

With the vehicle sinking deeper, the men moved to the passenger side. Murray braced his feet against the truck and helped pull the door open, allowing them to get the frightened driver out.

The rescue happened just in time.

According to Murray, the truck disappeared beneath the floodwater within minutes of the driver being pulled to safety. The vehicle had been visible moments earlier, but soon there was no sign of it above the water.

Murray later credited Hainey with helping make the rescue possible, saying he was deeply grateful for the stranger’s assistance.

An Emotional Reunion in the Water

After reaching safety, the rescued driver hugged his rescuers. Murray said the man was extremely relieved and explained that he had been unable to judge how deep the floodwater was.

Emergency services arrived approximately 10 minutes after the rescue and spoke with the driver. He was not taken to hospital, according to Murray’s account.

Camera operator Liz Pickering described the actions of the two rescuers as life-saving, saying there was no doubt they had saved the man’s life.

The dramatic incident unfolded as heavy rain caused flooding across parts of southeastern Queensland. Authorities have repeatedly warned motorists that floodwater can be far deeper and more dangerous than it appears, and that vehicles can quickly become uncontrollable in moving water.

For Murray, what began as a routine assignment covering the weather became an extraordinary moment in which he stepped away from reporting to help save a stranger.

Source:  PEOPLE