Western rains claim first victim as man drowns near Longreach
A man in his 40s has died after falling into floodwaters in western Queensland after the region was swamped by heavy rainfall.
Torrential rains in Queensland's west have claimed the life of a man near Longreach. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
The 46-year-old, identified as Robert Bax, was with family when he fell into floodwater at the Lloyd Jones Weir on Barcaldine-Isisford Rd, east of Longreach, just after 6pm Thursday, police said.
His body was found by search crews just hours later about 200m downstream.
The man’s death was not suspicious and a report would be prepared for the coroner, police said.
Major flood warnings remain in place for the region with floodwaters continuing to flow through the interior.
Although the Alice River at Barcaldine has peaked, the bureau warns levels will remain high across the weekend.
Sergeant Al McPhee from Barcaldine Police Station said it was unclear whether Mr Bax tried to walk through floodwaters.
“He’s entered the river with his two dogs, he’s lost his footing, he’s gone under and he wasn’t able to resurface,” Sergeant McPhee said.
“We don’t know if he was intending to walk from one side of the weir to the other.”
Sergeant McPhee said family members witnessed the incident and were distraught.
