When Crusiers and H20 Combine

Photo’s taken at the Murray's Bridge crossing over the Condamine River on the 5/01/2008

• Following the flooding that occurred in the upper Condamine catchment in early January 2008, I decided to grab my camera and catch some pictures of the first floods in over 10 years.

• It was all going well with the light providing some nice effects

While snapping some pictures Dad called out to me to get my camera ready as a car was approaching the other side and was

looking at attempting the crossing.

• He pulled up, got his kid to jump out and out and put the hubs in. He then headed straight across, he didn’t wait and watch it or try walking it, nothing… (Note the road closed pics in the background)

• That’s a 70 odd thousand vehicle he is driving

• Yes, that's a boat he is towing!!!

• It is about 150 meters across here and the water was flowing at an astonishing rate

• This Graph was taken from the BOM website and shows the peek of the flood recorded at the bridge recording station.

• The crossing attempt was made at 6.00pm on the 5/01/2008 (as can be seen it was the peek of the flood level).

• The Bridge is normally about 6 - 7 meters above the water level here.

• Where the water is turbulent (where he is now) there is Armco guard railing. We figured he’d be ok there as the rail was breaking up the

flow a little.

• You can see the extra bow wave that has been pushed up once into the undisturbed flow.

• It was at this point that the water lifted and moved the vehicle a little downstream (Note how sideways the vehicle and boat are).

• It settled back to the ground and started moving forward again!!!• Its worth remembering that he had no way of knowing that the bridge or road were still

intact under the water.

• Still going!!!

• A bit sideways but still going!!!

• I think I can!!!

• These new V8 Cruisers are a bloody good bit of gear!!!

• That’s a young kid in the passenger seat…• There was a number plate on the front when he went in the water…

• Once across he opened the doors and let the ankle deep water drain from the cab.

• Here one of the assembled crowd asked why he did it and he responded - “what that? It was nothing, I’ve been through deeper water than that, yuk yuk” and then promptly speed off only to return to offer his email address to the same person and asked if he would send him some photo’s.

Unbloody Believable!!!