Man rescues his family by strapping a mobile phone to a drone and flying it high enough to get a signal after floods trapped them on a remote road when their car broke down
A quick-thinking man rescued his family and a six month old baby by strapping a mobile phone to a drone and flying it high enough to send a message requesting urgent help after their car broke down on a remote road.
The four adults and six-month-old child were driving through floodwaters on Kirrama Range Road in Tully, Queensland, on Monday.
Queensland has been hit by flash flooding as ex-tropical cyclone Imogen blasts her way through parts of the state's north.
After spending the night in a tent in floodwaters, a 30-year-old man managed to strap a mobile phone to a drone and flew it high enough until he got reception.
The four adults and six-month-old child were driving through the Kirrama Range Road, Tully in Queensland on Monday when their car broke down in floodwaters
He then sent a message to his dad saying their car broke down and they 'need urgent help'. He also sent through their latitude and longitude, Cairns Post reported.
The man however did reassure his father they were okay and were warm but needed to get back to safety.
Local police including SES volunteers and Cassowary Coast Regional Council staff set out on Tuesday morning in search of the group.
Cassowary Coast police Inspector Steve Kersley said rescuers had to cut through six fallen trees and shift two landslides before finding the group around 1.30pm on Tuesday.
'They located the persons safe and well and returned to Cardwell where they are being looked after by family,' he said.
A 30-year-old man in the group managed to place a mobile phone on a drone and fly it high enough to get reception to text for help
Residents in North Queensland were warned that the danger of flash flooding has not passed after days of intense rain filled rivers and flooded roads.
State Emergency Service Director Brian Cox said more thunderstorms were expected on Thursday.
'We've already got high rivers, we've already got water inundation in those areas, it won't take much for those storms to affect flash flooding and that's still our major concern at this particular point in time,' he said.
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advised residents to never drive, walk or ride through floodwaters, keep clear of creeks and storm drains, and move cars under cover or away from trees.