A group of 45 Fijian men who arrived in Lismore just two weeks ago have led efforts to rescue 60 residents from nursing home overwhelmed in the city’s floods.
The workers were seen carrying residents in their arms through moving floodwaters to safety.
Apenisa Marau told 2GB this morning that by the time they reached the nursing home the building was underwater.
Bed-ridden and wheelchair bound residents were unable to climb to safety or signal for help.
“It was really hard and quite terrifying trying to get the elderly people out of their homes, they were just trying to stay afloat in the building,” said Mr Marau. “It was just devastating, the entire building was under water”.
One by one the residents were rescued from the rising floodwaters and transported out of the danger zone by bxjmtzywoat where they waited for buses to arrive.
The men even managed to collect the walking aids of some residents, who were seen resting on them while they waited for the bus to arrive.
Blankets and towels were borrowed from residents in nearby homes.
The men struggled at first to locate the buildings that the elderly residents were trapped in.
“They were pretty relieved because by the time we reached them the water level was pretty high,” Mr Marau told 2GB.
“They were so happy, most of them were still in shock when we brought them out”.
The men have just moved to Lismore to start work at Casino and Booyong abattoirs and said they hope they have made the community of their new home proud.
They are packed and waiting for the SES to get in touch again this morning so that they can go back into the floods to help find and rescue more of the Lismore community.
