Tragedy Strikes: Pastor’s Body Found in NSW Floodwaters
In a heartbreaking turn of events, the body of a 53-year-old pastor, who had been missing in floodwaters in northern New South Wales, has been found. The man had officiated at a wedding rehearsal at Selah Valley Estate in Limpinwood on Saturday and was leaving in his ute when tragedy struck.
Details of the Incident
The pastor’s car was swept away by the swollen river around 9.30pm, just meters away from the bridal party who could only watch in horror. Emergency services discovered his ute about 400 meters downstream, but the pastor was nowhere to be found. After days of extensive searching, rescue teams finally located his body around 1pm today.
Police have indicated that they will be preparing a report for the coroner to further investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. NSW Police Inspector Matt Woods described the conditions in the region as extreme following torrential rain and thunderstorms that lashed northeastern NSW from Wednesday onwards.
Impact of the Storms
Sadly, this is not the only fatality resulting from the severe weather conditions. One man lost his life when a tree fell on his car in the Central West. Additionally, over 143,000 people were left without power due to the storms, with approximately 73,700 lightning strikes hitting within 100km of Sydney CBD, as reported by Weatherzone. The NSW SES responded to more than 3000 incidents, highlighting the widespread impact of the extreme weather in the region.
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