"Hello? Anybody in there?" Heroes in the sky save lives as floods devastate parts of NSW

Jasmine Kostas
03:30pm May 29 2025

Dramatic rescue footage has revealed the dangerous flood conditions faced by stranded residents in the NSW Mid North Coast and Hunter Regions last week. 

The most harrowing rescue began with a phone call from a worried son who hadn't heard from his elderly mother in days. As the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter circled above what they believed was the right house, rescue crews were faced with a critical choice.

"We made a decision to put one of our rescue crew in the water," says Shane Daw, General Manager of Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service.

Search and rescue operator Jake Cleal-Cook waded through chest-deep brown floodwater, calling out through broken windows, "Hello? Anybody in there?"

After what felt like an eternity, came the life-saving response from the rescue crew: "There’s someone here."

The elderly woman they found was "in very good spirits," despite losing her home and possessions. She was taken to the emergency operations centre, warmed up, fed and reunited with her anxious family. 

Helicopter rescue reunites SES parents with flood-stranded children

In Taree, three children were airlifted to safety and reunited with their parents after days of separation. Their parents were State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers who had been working tirelessly to help their flood-hit community while unable to reach their own children.

The children had been staying with their grandfather when floodwaters cut off all access routes. "The parents couldn't get to the children. The grandfather couldn't get to the parents because they'd been cut off by floodwater," Daw explains.

Rescue footage captures the children being reunited with mum. Through tears of joy and relief, their mother cries out, "Did you go in a helicopter? Oh my god."

"Reuniting people is so powerful," Daw says. "Remember, these parents are SES members working hard to help others. To reunite them is just fantastic. They just wanted to hold each other. It's a pretty special moment."

A mother's 'thank you' post online after being reunited with her three children who were safely airlifted out of floodwater by the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter.

The grateful mother later posted on social media, "I really cannot thank you guys enough for bringing my babies safely to me. It was a hell of a few days being there for my community knowing my kids were on the other side of water without me."

Three days with snakes

Not every rescue was a race against time. Some tested the limits of human endurance. One man survived three harrowing days stranded on his caravan roof, surrounded by floodwater and unwelcome company.

"He'd seen snakes swimming in the water and some other creatures. He may have seen a shark," Daw recounts. "We're not sure."

After being rescued, the man advised the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter crew that he had lost contact with two of his friends overnight. The crew located them and also brought them to safety. 

A service built on community support

Through the recent floods, helicopter crews worked alongside SES, police and fire services in a coordinated response that rescued hundreds and assisted thousands more across affected regions.

"Without Westpac we wouldn't be able to do what we do," Daw emphasises. "To every Westpac staff member and everyone who banks with Westpac, thank you, because your support helps us save lives."

Damien MacRae, GM Retail Banking at Westpac, said: "We're incredibly proud of our partnership with the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Services, particularly in disaster situations like these. Thank you to all the crews who are always there to help."

The service relies on donations to keep flying, with every dollar going directly to life-saving operations. As Daw puts it, "It's in our DNA. We want to be there to help people when they're in need and get them home safe."

Donate to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service HERE

Jasmine Kostas

Jasmine is a Corporate Affairs Lead at Westpac. Previously she was Managing Editor of Sunrise and Supervising Producer of Today and Weekend Today.

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