A couple have spoken of their terrifying fight for survival as flash floods batter Australia.
Jenni amd Steve Coulter, who emigrated from Stockport three-and-a-half-years ago, are trapped in their Brisbane suburb.
Both had to race home from the city yesterday morning and are now watching the grim news unfold on television.
The pair have stockpiled vital food and drink supplies. They are hoping to see the devastation through from their front room – but admit they are ‘terrified’.
Steve, 34, originally from Heaton Moor, said: "It’s gone absolutely crazy. Over 75 per cent of Queensland has been declared a disaster area.
"We’re in Ipswich, which is to Brisbane like Stockport is to Manchester, and we’ve been told to expect the worst.
"The evacuation centres are full so we can’t go there. Fortunately where we live is quite new and on top of a hill so we should be OK. We’re trapped in our suburb and can’t go anywhere so it’s just a case of trying to sit it out.
"We’re watching reports of children getting washed away on the TV and there are people dying. It’s shocking stuff."
Jenni, 31, said: "It’s becoming more terrifying with each news update and it’s getting closer and closer to us – but it’s nothing compared to the people being rescued from their roofs tops and dying."
Steve, a marketing manager for the police, says neighbours have rallied to help each other.
He added: "That’s one good thing to come out of it. Everybody has been handing out extra torches, candles and supplies."
He joked: "Someone said we had brought the weather from Manchester – I told them it might rain but it’s never been like this there."
The floods are the worst to hit Brisbane, Australia’s third largest city, in decades.
The Brisbane River has burst its banks and yesterday lower-lying suburbs had been flooded by water with nine left dead and 70 missing.
That number, along with the water level, is expected to rise over the next few days.
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It is 8:05 in the evening Tuesday 12/1/11 the last count on the news here is 12 lives lost and 51 people missing,its a truly horrific situation in Queensland & Northern NSW
a Mother and her children have been washed away in their car whilst trying to escape the floods.I live on the South Coast of NSW we are about 600ks south of the devastation so we are o.k. But the whole Country and in fact many parts of the World are on the ready to give help.Our hearts go out to those affected by this tragedy.
I live at Wellington Point, a 30-minute drive south east of the City, and feel very lucky to have escaped this disaster. Our area has not been affected. The Brisbane River was supposed to peak at 5.2 metres at 4 o'clock this morning, but only reached about 4.5. I'm sure many people had a sleepless night anticipating the worst. My heart goes out to all those who have lost loved ones in this awful tragedy. After all the drought we now have terrible floods. What a land of contrasts this is!