© Provided by Daily Mail Anne South, (pictured) safely hoisted her daughter Kirralee and her six-day-old granddaughter into the roof cavity of her home in Eugowra, in central-west NSW, on Monday morning when the water inside the house rose to chin-height
A grandmother has been dubbed a hero after she bravely lifted her daughter and grand-child into the roof of her home after it became inundated with floodwaters.
Anne South safely hoisted her daughter Kirralee and her six-day-old granddaughter into the roof cavity of her home in Eugowra, in central-west NSW, on Monday morning when the water inside the house rose to chin-height.
The 68-year-old also saved her friend, who can’t walk because of a degenerative issue, by helping her onto a bench.
Ms South, a retired nurse, had put a stool on a table and opened a manhole in the ceiling to safely carry her family into the roof.
But tragically as her own home was being submerged by floods, Ms South spotted her 85-year-old neighbour Ljubisa ‘Les’ Vugec, outside of his house and desperately called out for him to get inside.
Mr Vugec has been missing since 9am on Monday.
‘I feel very depressed because I couldn’t save him. There wasn’t a lot I could do, I was trying to save my daughter and my friend,’ Ms South told the Sydney Morning Herald.
© Provided by Daily Mail Floodwaters swept through the small town of Eugowra in NSW’s central west this week
© Provided by Daily Mail Ms South spotted her 85-year-old neighbour Ljubisa ‘Les’ Vugec (pictured), outside of his house and desperately called out for him to get inside. He hasn’t been seen since Monday at 9am
The grandmother is currently recovering in Orange Hospital after her pneumonia was worsened by the terrifying experience.
Floodwaters had risen up to Ms South’s chin as she stood on the floor of her home.
She then managed to get onto a stool where she stayed for five hours before emergency services barged through the door to rescue her and her friend.
‘When they found us, they had to break into the roof to get my daughter and her baby out,’ she said.
Ms South’s other daughter had also been swept away by floodwaters but was later pulled to safety.
She said Mr Vugec was a ‘lovely’ man who had a pet dog, but wasn’t able to walk around much.
‘The last time I saw him I was just trying to get him to run into his house fast,’ she said.
© Provided by Daily Mail Eugowra residents in the small town of just 700 had to flee for their lives as floodwaters quickly took over
NSW Police on Thursday night said the elderly man was still missing.
The Eugowra flood tragically took the life of the co-owner of the local store and newsagency, Diane Smith, 60. What is believed to be her body was found on Wednesday.
Residents in the small town of just 700 had to flee for their lives as floodwaters quickly took over.
Authorities conducted 284 property assessments at Eugowra on Wednesday and determined the vast majority were damaged.
Residents described two sudden and intense surges of water, which washed away homes, knocked over structures and left destruction like a ‘war zone’.
The SES performed 12 flood rescues and handled 265 requests for help in the 24 hours until Thursday morning.
© Provided by Daily Mail Authorities conducted 284 property assessments at Eugowra on Wednesday and determined the vast majority were damaged
Read more
