In an unfolding tragedy that follows a devastating cyclone and flooding across eastern Australia, police divers have launched an operation to try to recover the bodies of the girl’s mother and older brother and younger sister. "With the assistance of SES as well as VRA to search the river, a private person bought a sonar device which we used to search and we have located an object believed to be the vehicle about five metres out from the north bank." “The car was completely submerged when we got there.”

Another witness, Peter Taylor said the girl’s feet were bleeding as she ran up the road desperately seeking help. "About 1.40pm this afternoon a vehicle has travelled along Dulguigan Rd at Tumbulgum, it has gone into the Tweed River, one person has escaped from the vehicle and we're currently searing for three occupants of that vehicle," he said. “She is only a little thing and her feet were bleeding apparently, that’s what the fireys tell me, and they called an ambulance and called the police.”

The girl has been treated in hospital, where she remains, being cared for by family members.
A mother and two children drown after their car plunges into the flooded Tweed River, raising the death toll to eight people. A ten-year-old girl escapes and alerts authorities.