MAN LOST IN CREEK

GRAVE fears are held for a man swept away by floodwaters after a boat crash south of Townsville.

A major rescue operation was launched last night involving Queensland Police and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, with a swiftwater crew dispatched from Ayr.

It is understood three men were driving around in a 4.5m boat at Groper Creek, where the swollen Burdekin River has caused major flooding.

The group crashed into the jetty about 5.40pm.

Two of the men fell overboard into the rapidly flowing waters.

Groper Creek resident Dan Garvey who lives opposite the jetty said he saw the incident unfold.

“I saw them [the men] go over the boat and I never saw their heads come up so it’s not looking good at all,” he said.

“When they hit the pylons the motor broke off the back of the boat and the boat has floated downstream, so I don’t know, I’m assuming [the driver of the boat] is OK.

“I hope they find them I really do [but] the rescue crew and the water police by the time they get here it’ll be too late. The water is flowing very very quickly.” Residents launched at least seven of their own boats immediately after the crash to search for the men.

Miraculously, one of the men who went overboard had managed to cling on to the crashed boat as it drifted and was pulled to safety by the driver. It is unknown if either of the men were injured.

As of last night two Volunteer Marine Rescue crews, two swiftwater rescue crews and water police were searching for the missing man, believed to be aged in his 20s.

Mr Garvey’s wife Jeanette said she had been on the veranda and was “totally shocked” by the incident.

“It’s a full scale rescue at the moment … there’s no light now obviously,” she said.

“We’re all just shaking.”