A shirtless man has been spotted floating on a paddleboard through a flooded car park, gliding past a partially submerged car as severe storms battered southeast Queensland.
The bizarre scene was captured in Burpengary, in Brisbane’s north, as floodwaters swallowed roads and left motorists stranded across the region, with some locals finding alternative ways to get around.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Queensland deluge sparks dramatic rescues
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But behind the unusual sight was a dangerous day for thousands of Queenslanders, as torrential rain triggered flash flooding, forced school closures and prompted desperate rescues.
The Moreton Bay region bore the brunt, with parts of Morayfield told to prepare to leave as almost 300 millimetres of rain fell in 24 hours.
In one dramatic rescue at Rocksberg, west of Caboolture, an elderly driver was trapped as floodwaters surged around his vehicle.
A man was nearly swept away with his ute as floodwaters rise around his vehicle. Credit: Ten News
“Stop, stay where you are. Hop on the roof, you’re doing really good,” one rescuer told him.
Swiftwater crews battled strong currents to reach the stranded driver.
But as the rescue unfolded, the vehicle suddenly shifted in the torrent, forcing the driver to jump into the water while wearing a life vest and holding onto ropes.
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Fire and Rescue Queensland’s Brendan Smith said the man narrowly avoided being swept away with it.
“That man was extremely lucky there,” he said. “You notice that vehicle was swept downstream, he would have gone with it.”
A shirtless man paddleboards through a flooded car park in Burpengary as severe storms lash southeast Queensland. Credit: Bailey Buckle
The slow-moving storm system dumped extraordinary amounts of rain across southeast Queensland, with some locations recording more than 170 millimetres in just three hours.
The deluge stretched from the Sunshine Coast through Brisbane and down towards the Gold Coast, with flooding also affecting areas west towards the Scenic Rim.
Residents in Morayfield described the flooding as the worst they had experienced.
“This is the worst it’s been. Even the last time it flooded here, it wasn’t as bad as this,” one local said.
For others, the rain made getting to work impossible.
“I’m driving all the way to Brisbane for work, just couldn’t make it through,” another resident said.
Morayfield Shopping Centre was surrounded by floodwater, with water also getting inside the complex. Nearby roads were cut off and cars were stranded across the area.
Floodwater inundates the inside of Morayfield Shopping Centre as severe storms batter southeast Queensland. Credit: Bailey Buckle
At Wyllie Park in Petrie, a homeless camp was left waterlogged, with residents pleading for emergency assistance after their tents and bedding were soaked.
“It’s flooded, everybody’s tent. Unfortunately, a lot of these people now have wet bedding, wet tents and once again nowhere to go,” Beau Haywood, founder of homeless support group Nourish Street Inc, said.
A Moreton Bay council spokesperson said the council had consistently maintained Wyllie Park was not a solution to homelessness, encouraging people sleeping rough to move to safer ground.
A homeless camp with tents and bedding soaked by floodwaters. Credit: 7NEWS
At least 14 schools across Moreton Bay were closed, including Morayfield State High School, with parents urged to check for updates as more heavy rain remained in the forecast.
The State Emergency Service (SES) responded to 277 callouts in just eight hours as emergency crews dealt with the widespread impacts.
Despite storm warnings being cancelled for now, flood warnings remain current across parts of the region, with further showers and thunderstorms possible in the coming days.
Authorities are urging Queenslanders to stay away from floodwaters and never drive through flooded roads or creek crossings: if it’s flooded, forget it.
BRISBANE WEATHER FORECAST
- Friday: Showers, 18-25 ☔️
- Saturday: Showers, 19-25 ☔️
- Sunday: Showers, 19-25 ☔️
- Monday: Showers. Storm developing, 20-31 ⛈️
- Tuesday: Shower or two, 20-29 ☔️
- Wednesday: Shower or two, 18-29 ☔️
- Thursday: Possible shower, 17-27 🌧️
Forecast sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology.
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