Bretti News - Tragedy

[Allan_L]

There are grave fears for a man whose vehicle, towing a caravan, was seen swept into the Barnard River at Bretti, north of Gloucester, in the mid-north coast hinterland on Saturday evening.

The man had been attempting to cross a causeway through rising flood waters that have now cut off a campsite, stranding more than 20 people.

Police said a helicopter arrived at the campground about 3am and that those present chose not to be evacuated. Searches of the river have continued this morning, and a command post has been established.

“Despite sweeps of the area overnight the vehicle and driver have not been found,” police said in a statement.

courtesy MSN News

[GTB_an_Owl]

yep just read about it Al

i can't see how it could happen at the reserve itself

maybe one of the low bridges on the way up

geoff

[glend]

Yes, thanks Al. I saw the Newcastle news tonight and the video and reporter on site, clearly showed the extent of the flooding at the what i though was the Reserve. They interviewed people who were camping there in their caravans and the extent of the trauma was still with them. The reporter appeared to be filming from the track along the ridge, above the new toilet, near the big tree, and down in the lower level there was field of broken trees, mud, and debris that had been washed into the valley, with caravans sitting like islands in the muck. We know how the caravan people love to park along the river. I could not see the area to the east where we used to camp, but being the place where the two rivers join, it must have surely been at risk. We know the stories of the river backing up into the valley by coming up over the farmers causeway. It is pretty obvious that Bretti will by closed for awhile, the cleanup will take weeks, Pretty sad. I doubt that the big Newcastle club event will be able to take place at Easter as it usually does.
:(

Edit: Another news item I heard in the radio suggested the man had been washed down the Manning River, and Bretti Reserve is the junction of the Manning and Bernard rivers. Bretti Creek according to Google Maps joins the Manning further along the Thunderbolt Way from the Bretti Reserve. So i am not positive about the Reseve campers being affected, but watch the video I am posting above and let me know.

[glend]

Here is a link to the NBN news story.


https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2025/03/30/search-resumes-for-elderly-man-swept-into-flood-waters-near-gloucester/

[GTB_an_Owl]

seeing the video he might have been caught at the first causeway

geoff

[glend]

I agree, and why the heck was he attempting that crossing in the dark at 10:30pm, while it was raining. If he knew the area he could of just stopped on the top track till day Light. Guess we'll never know.

NSW Police confirm it was at Bretti Reserve. More details below.

https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/article?id=117633

[GTB_an_Owl]

i was thinking the same thing Glen
why would you not use the track near the toilet to get to the top of the hill
might have been some water going down to the northern crossing, but safer than crossing the first causeway

geoff

[alan meehan]

I Have Seen this as well, very sad I would have ditched it all and ran to high ground that's what insurance is all about life more precious