Carnarvon Man Survives 12-Hour Ordeal Clinging to Tree in Raging Floodwaters
A Carnarvon man has miraculously survived a harrowing 12-hour ordeal after being swept away by raging floodwaters, clinging desperately to a tree throughout the night before executing a daring escape. Noel Glanville, 53, faced the terrifying possibility of never seeing his family again when fast-moving floodwaters, triggered by Cyclone Narelle, surged through Carnarvon on Sunday night.
The Terrifying Experience
Glanville described the overwhelming power of the Gascoyne River in flood, stating, "You can't fight against it, you can't swim against it." He was among locals waiting on the riverbed for the floodwaters to arrive but was caught off guard by the torrent's sudden force. Swept up by the raging waters, he managed to grab hold of a tree and held on for dear life as the flood raged around him.
"I was thinking, if it comes any higher, I'm going to be buggered because the tree was really, it got swaying backwards towards the current," Glanville recounted, highlighting the perilous nature of his situation.
The Desperate Escape
When daylight finally broke, Glanville mustered the strength to swim to shore, eventually reaching the Rivergums Plantation Cafe. "I could see a house there, I walked there ... the bloke was walking out the house there and he looked at me (and said) 'where did you come from?' and I just went like that, pointed at the river," he explained.
After receiving a hot shower, coffee, and food from kind strangers, they provided him with a kayak to paddle off the property, which remained surrounded by water. He was then reunited with his relieved family, who expressed immense joy at his survival.
A Warning to Others
Despite his incredible survival story, Glanville admits he should never have been in that dangerous position and now urges others to stay well clear of floodwaters. When asked if he felt lucky to be alive, he responded emphatically, "Flamin' oath. You can't mess with Mother Nature, can you?"
After this close encounter with the river's fury, Glanville will never view the Gascoyne River the same way again, serving as a stark reminder of nature's unpredictable power.
