Flood crisis turns deadly as a body is found in a car submerged in water in Sydney
- A man died after his car was trapped in floodwaters in Sydney’s north-west
- Emergency crews were called to Cattai Ridge Road in Glenorie on Wednesday
- Police and SES Flood Rescue searched for the car, which was found at about 1pm
New South Wales’ flood crisis has turned deadly after a man’s body was found in a car trapped in water in Sydney’s north-west.
Emergency crews were called to Cattai Ridge Road, near Hidden Valley Lane in Glenorie at about 6.30am on Wednesday, following reports a car was submerged in floodwaters.
Police and SES Flood Rescue arrived and began to search for the vehicle in Cattai Creek.
The car was located with the man’s body inside at about 1pm.
The Hills Shire Council shared this image from the local area on Monday as they announced road closures due to flooding
A man’s body has been found in a car following devastating floods in Sydney’s north-west. Pictured: An image shared by The Hills Shire Council on Monday
The man has not yet been formally identified.
A crime scene has been established and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian expressed her condolences to the man’s family.
‘We extend our heartfelt condolences to all the loved ones of that person and obviously I will allow the state emergency services to further outline those details,’ Ms Berejiklian said in parliamentary question time.
The premier said there is still extreme danger in flood-hit areas despite the sunshine in Sydney on Wednesday.
‘Whilst the sun is out conditions remain extremely dangerous, rivers are still rising,’ she said.
A partially submerged car is seen abandoned in floodwaters in the suburb of Windsor on Monday
‘We ask everybody, especially if they are in vehicles to be extra cautious.
‘Some would suggest it is even more dangerous now as rivers continue to rise and catchments fill up with water.’
The Hills Shire Council on Wednesday said Cattai Ridge Road in Glenorie was shut due to flooding.
Treacherous rivers around flood-stricken NSW will remain swollen into the weekend but are unlikely to rise further as weather conditions ease.
Some 24,000 people in NSW are still evacuated from their homes but the torrential rain that has battered the state for the week has finally settled.
Police boats head out on to floodwaters to deliver basic supplies donated by Coles to stranded locals in the Windsor region on Wednesday
About 60,000 people have nevertheless been told by the State Emergency Service to be ready to evacuate, with major flood warnings still in place for the Macintyre, Gwydir, Clarence and Hawkesbury, Nepean and Colo rivers.
There have been 11,000 calls for help to the SES so far, and 950 flood rescues.
The Bureau of Meteorology, meanwhile, predicts there will be no major rain for at least a week, barring up to 40mm on the NSW south coast on Wednesday.
The reprieve in the weather paved the way for defence personnel and emergency service workers to get essential supplies to isolated communities, particularly North Richmond in Sydney’s northwest where floodwaters continue to rise.
It will also enable the extensive clean-up process to gradually begin.
SES volunteers and NSW Police begin delivering food, medicine and essential items and inspecting properties inundated but floodwaters around Windsor in the north west of Sydney