Police officer praised after rescuing children from flooded Lachlan River

A NSW Police officer who rescued two young boys from the flooded Lachlan River in the state’s central west has been hailed as a hero.

Sergeant Joel Hunter stripped down to his underwear to rescue two 11-year-old boys who were whisked 60m downstream near Condobolin.

Emergency services were called about 3.45pm on Saturday to reports the boys had jumped into the river from its western bank and were swept away by the fast-moving current.

Central West Police District officers attended along with members of the SES and Rural Fire Service.

The Lachlan River catchment has been flooding since last week after heavy rainfall across much of NSW, affecting towns including Forbes and Condobolin.

Local SES Commander Susan Bennett said the two boys were hanging off a rope tied to a dead tree in the middle of the floodwaters before Mr Hunter leapt to their rescue.

“We were sort of standing there trying to plan what we were going to do and one of the boys called out, ‘I’m going to let go, I can’t hold on anymore’,” she told Today from Condobolin.

“It was heart wrenching and Joel just said, ‘I’ve got to go in’. So we just grabbed the life jacket and a flotation device and said to him, ‘Not without these you don’t’.”

Mr Hunter entered the river from upstream and floated down to the tree to meet the boys and bring them over to the shore one by one.

“We did it the first time then we had to repeat the effort to get the second boy over,” Ms Bennett said.

“So, it was an outcome that we all hope and pray for but, you know, when we join the emergency services as first responders, we know that not every outcome is going to be as good as this one was.”

She praised the boys for staying calm and thinking to grab onto the rope as they floated past it.

“I take my hat off to them. And we are very, very proud of Joel Hunter – so pleased to have him on the team here in Condobolin. He’ll be such an asset to this community,” she said.

A NSW Police spokesman said ambulance paramedics checked the two boys for injuries before they were returned safely to their parents.

Chief Inspector Peter Atkins, the officer in charge of Orange Police Station said he would commend Mr Hunter for a bravery award.

“If not for the quick-thinking and courageous response from our police, the outcome could have been tragic for the families of these two boys,” Mr Atkins said.

“It serves as a timely reminder coming into summer, that people should avoid swimming in flood-affected rivers, as conditions are unpredictable, changeable and often dangerous.”

The Bureau of Meteorology says the main flood peak is moving along the Lachlan River and approaching Jemalong on Monday.

Minor flooding is expected at Condobolin later in the week with moderate flooding likely.