During spring 2022 the central western region of New South Wales (NSW), Australia received nearly three times its average rainfall. The Lachlan River system was impacted. This system is a tributary of the Wyangala Dam, a major reservoir situated below the Lachlan and Abercrombie rivers, near Cowra, NSW. This rainfall was the cause of the event described below which required the services of CareFlight Emergency helicopters.

During the days preceding the event, heavy rain impacted the Lachlan and Abercrombie Rivers with between 120-250 mm falling over two days. 120mm had fallen in the preceding 12 hours alone, overwhelming already swollen rivers and dams.

Spills from Wyangala Dam peaked at a record 230,000m litres a day. In the early hours of 14 November 2022, in Eugowra, a town of approximately 700 people in Central Western NSW, the town’s flood alarm system sounded, warning residents in low lying areas to evacuate. Prior to dawn, Eugowra was almost destroyed by a flash flood that reached 11.2 metres. The wall of water was strong enough to lift cars and push houses off their foundations.

Rescue helicopters were sent in to assist. CareFlight operates and maintains rescue helicopters on behalf of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) and was tasked to the area as part of the broader State Emergency Service (SES) and Australian Defence Force activities on the day. The CareFlight team was Todd Wilson, Rotary Wing Pilot, Jake Laurie, Aircrew Officer and Nigel Korff, RFS Aviation Rescue Crewman.

On arrival, the team was confronted with a scene of utter devastation, raging flood waters metres deep and residents and children perched on the roofs of their submerged homes, holding on to save their lives.

The CareFlight team displayed true humanity through real heroism. On that day, between 0830 and 1900, the team successfully completed 17 winch rescues safely, many off roof tops, 14 landings and accumulated 7.3 flight hours. The team received the following text message from one resident, rescued with her daughter, Korra, that clearly explains the extent of their efforts on the day.

“We had nothing up there on the roof.  I was trying to wet Korra’s lips with my hand.  You had a presence when I saw you checking the house across the road.  I had waved at every helicopter for 6 and a half hours without hope, but you pointed back at me and I just cried! Just relief.

I had jumped out of my car and ran to that house. We were inside but 2 waves hit us in the house, and we had to get out.  We had slipped down that roof a few times.  From tiredness of holding a toddler, I didn’t actually know how much longer I could stay there.

My car was 150 metres away, totalled from where I got out. I have nothing left from my house, but I’m not concerned, I have Korra.

Your calmness calmed me. In a devastating hopeless moment, you gave me hope. You were safe, and that was something I didn’t have that day."

On that day, Todd, Jake and Nigel worked flawlessly as a team, conducting themselves calmly with outstanding technical knowledge and compassion, allowing the successful execution of 17 difficult rescues in a safe and efficient manner.  For exceptional service in extreme circumstances the CareFlight team is awarded the Barry Marsden Memorial Award.

2022  442 (T&R) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

2023  CareFlight Australia