Overview
- A Nissan Patrol carrying three women and one man was swept while trying to cross the Macalister River at Burgoyne Track about 8pm on Thursday when the river was under a minor flood warning.
- As the vehicle crossed the river the rear lifted, the engine stalled and the 4WD turned into the current before drifting roughly 25 metres downstream and stopping.
- The occupants climbed onto the roof, used a satellite phone to give coordinates to the Rescue Coordination Centre, and the Victoria Police Air Wing located them and winched all four to safety.
- All four were taken to hospital cold and wet but uninjured, while the Nissan remains in the river and police say it will be recovered once water levels fall.
- Burgoyne Track is remote and the incident highlights that even minor flood warnings can create hazardous currents that require specialist rescue and ongoing public warnings to avoid flood crossings.