The Land Rover LifeFlight helicopter rescued 18 people and 14 pets – including dogs, cats and a turtle – from floodwaters in Orange and Eugowra.
The first rescue occurred at Ophir Reserve Campground near Orange after floodwaters quickly submerged the area, surprising campers.
Three people and a dog were rescued from the site.
”The campers told the crew it wasn’t raining when they went to bed last night, but they awoke early this morning to water rising halfway up caravans,” LifeFlight said in a statement.
“The crew provided care to keep them warm as they were suffering hyperthermia-like symptoms.”
The group was then transferred to an ambulance at Orange Airport.
The helicopter continued on its rescue mission to Eugowra where two neighbours were trapped by surrounding fast-flowing floodwaters.
”The LifeFlight paramedic, who is also a qualified rescue crew officer, was first winched down to a woman waiting in her house and brought her up to safety before rescuing the neighbour from the back of a ute,” LifeFlight said.
Further upstream, the helicopter found a woman whose home had been destroyed after floodwaters blew out the windows due to the shear force of the torrents.
“She had made it out onto dry ground so the crew was able to land the Land Rover LifeFlight Special Mission helicopter in a nearby paddock to collect her,” LifeFlight said.
The biggest operation was in Eugowra where 12 people, 10 dogs, two cats and a pet turtle were winched to safety.
The LifeFlight rescues are among hundreds in the area.
Roo seeks shelter from floods inside shocked family’s house
