January 9, 2022
Police hold very grave fears for the safety of a 14-year-old girl who is still missing after being washed away in floodwaters near Booubyjan.
State Disaster Coordinator Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said on Sunday morning the Polair helicopter had joined the search.
Eight specialist police, including police divers, had also been sent to the area, joining SES volunteers in the on-ground search.
Deputy Commissioner Gollschewski said the searchers were working in a “very, very difficult environment”.
The search began early on Saturday after reports a 40-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl had been caught in floodwaters near the Burnett Highway and Murgon-Gayndah Road intersection.
It is believed the pair were in a Toyota Camry sedan and managed to get out of the vehicle before it was swept away.
The man was rescued just before 12:30pm on Saturday after being found clinging to a tree.
He was taken to Bundaberg Hospital for treatment but the girl is still missing.
The headwaters of Boonara Creek had received 946mm of rain up to Sunday morning, according to local reports.
- Related article: Teenager Missing In Floodwaters
