The rescue

Will Murray, a reporter for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), was covering flooding north of Brisbane in Morayfield, Queensland, on Thursday, 22 October, when a four-wheel-drive drove into floodwater. The vehicle stalled and began to sink, and Murray moved toward it together with a passing bystander. The BBC described the vehicle as an SUV, while other outlets called it a four-wheel-drive, but all accounts agree that it went under quickly. Murray told the BBC that once it was clear the car was sinking fast, there was no time for deliberation, because the driver could have drowned. Rai News reported that the vehicle stopped suddenly before it began to sink.

Getting the driver out

According to Notícias ao Minuto, Murray and the bystander first tried to break the rear window and could not, before Murray managed to open one of the doors and the driver, already distressed, climbed out. The Independent describes the footage differently, saying the pair smashed the back windscreen before pulling the driver to safety, so the accounts disagree on how they got inside. Focus reported that the two men swam to the car and pulled the driver out shortly before it fully went under. Within seconds of the driver leaving the car, it was completely submerged, which the footage shows. Afterwards the three men swam away from the scene, and The Independent says the rescuers gave a thumbs-up to onlookers before leaving.

Condition of those involved

EL MUNDO reports that the three people involved left the water without serious injuries, while The Independent says no injuries were reported. Focus said that nothing more was known about the driver's condition. Notícias ao Minuto describes the footage ending with the three men hugging, relieved at the outcome. Murray said he did not know who the bystander was, but that he was very grateful someone else was there to help.

Flood conditions

ABC reported that about 170 mm of rain fell in Morayfield on Thursday, a figure that Focus, Rai News and lastampa.it also carried. Focus put the total at 6.7 inches. EL MUNDO says the rain fell within a few hours and that flood alerts remain in place across Queensland. The Independent reports that authorities issued flood warnings for the area after the heavy rain. Rai News says the floods caused widespread waterlogging and extremely dangerous conditions for traffic in the area.

Footage and circulation

Murray was filming a report on the rain when he noticed the car, according to Notícias ao Minuto. EL MUNDO reports that he interrupted a live broadcast to make the rescue, and that his camera operator captured the whole episode. EL MUNDO notes that the video has gone viral on social media.