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Will Murray Rescues Trapped Driver After Flash Flood Sinks Truck

By Drooid · Oct 23, 2026, 10:20 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Will Murray Rescues

Will Murray rescued a man trapped in a sinking four-wheel-drive truck in Morayfield, Queensland.
Murray and Daniel Hainey swam to the truck and forced open the passenger door.
They pulled the driver out before the vehicle submerged.
More than 7.9 inches of rain triggered flash flooding that closed roads and schools in southeast Queensland.
Murray later issued a public service announcement urging drivers not to enter floodwaters.

Summary

Queensland Fire Warns

Queensland Fire Department warned residents against swimming in Morayfield floodwaters after a rescue.
ABC camera operator Liz Pickering filmed a black utility vehicle stall, fence impact, and sinking in deep water.
Reporter Will Murray removed his boots and entered the flood to reach the trapped driver.
ABC plans to use the footage in future public-safety broadcasts about flood hazards.

History

Historical Context

The 2011 Queensland floods, which peaked in January 2011, inundated Brisbane and surrounding regions, causing over 2.4 billion Australian dollars in damages. Premier Anna Bligh declared a state of emergency, while the Australian Defence Force deployed 1,200 personnel and rescued 1,500 residents from rising waters. That massive response mirrors today’s Morayfield rescue, where ABC reporter Will Murray and volunteer Daniel Hainey entered flood-choked streets to save a driver trapped in a utility vehicle. The 2011 precedent spurred stricter Queensland flood-warning protocols and ongoing public-safety broadcasts, aiming to reduce future casualties during similar flash-flood events.

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Will Murray Rescues

Will Murray rescued a man trapped in a sinking four-wheel-drive truck in Morayfield, Queensland.
Murray and Daniel Hainey swam to the truck and forced open the passenger door.
They pulled the driver out before the vehicle submerged.
More than 7.9 inches of rain triggered flash flooding that closed roads and schools in southeast Queensland.
Murray later issued a public service announcement urging drivers not to enter floodwaters.

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