Saturday 2 July 2022 05:12 PM Terrified woman is plucked from rising floodwaters in Sydney trends now
Dramatic footage shows the moment a terrified young woman was rescued from surging floods as wild weather continued to wreak havoc in NSW on Saturday night.
The woman, believed to be in her 20s, desperately clung to a tree as the freezing current ripped at her after she had been swept away by the treacherous waters.
Emergency workers bravely fought to save her and managed get a lifeline to her before plucking her to safety in Holsworthy, south-west Sydney, on Saturday night.
The rescue came as 500,000 residents in south-west Sydney were facing evacuation orders after heavy rain pounding the east coast triggered multiple flood warnings.
The terrified woman clung to a tree as she was battered by flood waters in southwestern Sydney
Around 500,000 residents in southwest Sydney have been told to evacuate as the heavy rain pounding the NSW east coast triggered multiple flood warnings
The terrified young woman was rescued from surging floods as wild weather continued to wreak havoc in NSW on Saturday night
People in suburbs including Camden, Wallacia, Liverpool, Georges Hall, Chipping Norton, Lansvale and Moorebank were all told to head for higher ground on Saturday evening, with the State Emergency Service warning they may soon be cut off by floodwaters.
'Please be ready to evacuate on short notice,' NSW Emergency Services Minister Stephanie Cooke said.
'Please ensure that you prepare your properties as best you can and if in any doubt, please evacuate earlier.
'Don’t necessarily wait for us to put out an order, asking or suggesting that you leave.'
The SES warned: 'If you receive a text message from +61 444 444 444, it’s an official alert that requires attention and to take action early.'
Authorities also fear that Sydney's main water source, the Warragamba Dam, could overflow and unleash widespread flooding as the deluge smashed a 118-year record.
SES volunteers staged at least three rescues from floodwaters, with more than 240 pleas for help as the incessant rain caused chaos.
Ambulance, fire, police and SES personnel desperately tried to find one man who was washed away in the Hacking River near Otford, in the Illawarra, south of Sydney.
A rural firefighter spotted the man in a nearby creek, and got in the rising icy waters to pull him to safety onto the riverbank.
Additional RFS crew members then helped him up to higher ground, where he was assessed for injuries and taken to hospital
Ambulance, fire, police and SES personnel desperately tried to find a man who was washed away in the Hacking River near Otford, in Illawarra region, south of Sydney
Another nine people were also rescued from flood waters in Austral, south west Sydney when two cars were stranded in rising waters
NSW Emergency Minister Steph Cooke said flash flooding could occur anywhere from Newcastle to Jervis Bay
Another nine people were also rescued from flood waters in Austral, south west Sydney when two cars were stranded in rising waters,
'The two cars were in approximately 40cm of water, which is enough to be very dangerous,' said a Rura Fire Service spokesman.
'The occupants from two vehicles were assisted to higher ground by our members and they have gone home safely.'
Authorities warned earlier on Saturday the current bout of wet weather was only going to get worse, with more rain, powerful winds and surging seas expected.
The federal government approved ADF support at the request of NSW on Friday night, with 100 troops and two helicopters available from Sunday onwards, Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said.
'I want to assure people that the federal government
