Shocking downpour horror: Woman's rainy day takes terrifying turn
By
Seia Ibanez
- Replies 3
The unpredictable nature of Melbourne's weather has once again been highlighted in a harrowing incident—a 58-year-old woman's evening turned into a fight for survival.
As heavy rains pummeled Victoria, the woman found herself in a life-threatening situation that served as a stark reminder of the dangers of severe weather events.
On Monday night in Daylesford, northwest of Melbourne, the woman experienced a terrifying ordeal when she slipped down an embankment and was swept into the waters of a stormwater drain on Raglan Street.
The floodwaters, which rose to neck height, carried her away, leaving her struggling to stay afloat in the torrential downpour.
The woman managed to latch onto a metal pole and screamed for help, but nobody could hear her.
After what must have felt like an eternity battling the rushing water, she used the pole to pull herself to safety.
She made her way to a friend's house nearby, where she was treated for minor cuts and bruises. Her survival is nothing short of miraculous, considering the circumstances.
Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) was inundated with almost 500 calls for assistance as thunderstorms, damaging winds, and relentless rain hammered the state.
Reports of building damage and flood-related incidents surged, with the VICSES responding to many emergencies, including 63 calls related to fallen trees obstructing roads.
The suburbs of Melton, Altona, and Point Cook in Melbourne's west, along with Lara near Geelong and Horsham in the state's west, were some of the area’s hardest hit.
The weather caused disruptions, from a 40-minute halt to an AFL match at the MCG to a delay in the Stawell Gift's finals due to waterlogged tracks.
A severe weather warning remained in place, with forecasts predicting heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts for much of Victoria's east, extending to parts of southern Gippsland, the High Country, and even the NSW border. Residents braced for wind gusts reaching up to 130km/h.
What measures do you take to stay safe during storms? Share your stories in the comments below.
As heavy rains pummeled Victoria, the woman found herself in a life-threatening situation that served as a stark reminder of the dangers of severe weather events.
On Monday night in Daylesford, northwest of Melbourne, the woman experienced a terrifying ordeal when she slipped down an embankment and was swept into the waters of a stormwater drain on Raglan Street.
The floodwaters, which rose to neck height, carried her away, leaving her struggling to stay afloat in the torrential downpour.
The woman managed to latch onto a metal pole and screamed for help, but nobody could hear her.
After what must have felt like an eternity battling the rushing water, she used the pole to pull herself to safety.
She made her way to a friend's house nearby, where she was treated for minor cuts and bruises. Her survival is nothing short of miraculous, considering the circumstances.
Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) was inundated with almost 500 calls for assistance as thunderstorms, damaging winds, and relentless rain hammered the state.
Reports of building damage and flood-related incidents surged, with the VICSES responding to many emergencies, including 63 calls related to fallen trees obstructing roads.
The suburbs of Melton, Altona, and Point Cook in Melbourne's west, along with Lara near Geelong and Horsham in the state's west, were some of the area’s hardest hit.
The weather caused disruptions, from a 40-minute halt to an AFL match at the MCG to a delay in the Stawell Gift's finals due to waterlogged tracks.
A severe weather warning remained in place, with forecasts predicting heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts for much of Victoria's east, extending to parts of southern Gippsland, the High Country, and even the NSW border. Residents braced for wind gusts reaching up to 130km/h.
Key Takeaways
- A 58-year-old woman nearly drowned after being swept into a stormwater drain in Daylesford, Victoria, during severe weather conditions.
- Despite her cries for help, the rushing water meant no one could hear her, but she managed to pull herself to safety using a metal pole.
- The Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) received almost 500 calls for help due to the thunderstorms, damaging winds and heavy rain across the state.
- A severe weather warning for heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts remains in effect for much of Victoria's east, as well as parts of the South West Slopes and Snowy Mountains in New South Wales.