Australian Reporter Rescues Driver from Sinking Car Amid Queensland Floods

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) journalist Will Murray, along with a bystander, pulled a driver from a sinking car in floodwaters in Morayfield, Queensland, on Thursday, October 22, 2026, an event Murray described as unfolding "within 15 to 20 seconds"[21]. This dramatic rescue occurred as torrential rains in southeast Queensland caused widespread flash flooding, prompting hundreds of emergency calls and multiple swiftwater rescues[1][3][7][9][19].

The incident underscores the dangers posed by rapid flood events and the immediate risks faced by individuals caught in the rising waters, as emergency services across the region responded to numerous incidents amid a deluge that defied initial rainfall predictions[1][3][9].

What the records show

The two men swam to the vehicle, first attempting to open the nearest door[19]. They climbed onto the truck and considered breaking the rear window[12][19]. Murray then managed to force open the passenger-side rear door, using the pressure of the rushing water to his advantage[12][19]. He and Hainey pulled the trapped driver from the vehicle just moments before it was completely submerged[2][15][17][18]. Pickering, who filmed the rescue, stated that the pair "definitely saved that man's life"[10][17]. The rescued motorist received medical examination at the scene and spoke with police, but did not require hospitalization[10].

The timeline

What changed and for whom

What the subject has said publicly

What we could not confirm