Man Dies During Sydney Storm

[mrmoshe]

Sad news. A man has drowned in Sydney harbour today during that violent

storm lashing the city.

He died after capsizing a dinghy while trying to secure a boat

being damaged by the high winds.

Here is the story from today's S.M.H.

Pete.

_____________________________________________

Storms bring death, miss dam

A man died after his dinghy flipped as he tried to secure a boat during wild weather on the harbour on Sydney's North Shore this morning, police say.

The 38-year-old man was working on a waterfront building site at Mosman about 8.40am when he saw a boat moored nearby being damaged by the wind, police said.

He launched a dinghy and headed towards the boat to secure it, police said.

The dinghy apparently flipped over, throwing the man into the water, police said.

Passing NSW Maritime boating officers were first on the scene and pulled two men from the harbour, a spokeswoman said.

Police said the unconscious man was taken to Mosman wharf by the Water Police.

Police officers performed CPR until ambulance crews arrived, a NSW Ambulance Service spokesman said.

The man was in cardiac arrest and taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition, he said.

Police said the man died shortly after.

He was yet to be formally identified, police said.

Heaviest rain in months

Storms dumped some of the heaviest rain on Sydney in months, with significant falls also in both the Illawarra and Hunter regions.

The western suburbs reported heavy falls, some exceeding the average for the whole of September, but the Warragamba Dam catchment once again missed out.

Apart from localised flooding, there have been no reports of damage, but the State Emergency Service has warned the region to batten down with gale-force winds expected later today.

The heavy rain caused havoc for commuters, with flooded roads and traffic delays.

The Roads and Traffic Authority NSW reported flooding on roads at Hinchinbrook, Fairfield, Drummoyne, Cheltenham, Thornleigh, Dee Why, South Windsor, Liverpool and Audley Weir.

Traffic lights were blacked out at Newtown, Belrose, Kings Cross, Kensington, Darlinghurst, Ingleburn, Marayong, Webbs Creek, Bowen Mountain, Hilltop, Blacktown, Avoca, Scarborough, Shellharbour and Bowral.

Most of Sydney's major motorways were affected by the wind and rain, an NRMA spokesman said.

Some cars travelling through big puddles have suffered auto-electrical failure.

By 6am, the NRMA had been called out to 221 roadside service jobs.

Flights in and out of Sydney Airport have been delayed by the strong winds, an airport spokesman said.

Rail services have also been affected.

Train services on the North Shore, Western and Northern lines were delayed by up to 30 minutes after a tree fell on the line at Waverton, a RailCorp spokeswoman said.

CityRail said there were heavy delays on South Coast line services. Trains in both directions were delayed because of damage to the line between Scarborough and Waterfall.

A replacement bus service was running between Thirroul and Waterfall. There was no information on when regular services would be restored.

Flooding forced the closure of Eastwood station, in the city's north.

A replacement bus service was arranged to run in both directions between Eastwood and Epping stations. Passengers were advised to travel directly to Epping for a train service.

Flooding was also reportedly affecting Martin Place in the city.

Strong winds had caused 15 minute delays to Manly ferries and water flowing over the weir at Parramatta had closed its Rivercat wharf, a Sydney Ferries spokesman said.

He said the Parramatta Rivercat would start from Rydalmere until further notice, with buses running between the wharves.

Bus services were running on schedule, a State Transit Authority spokeswoman said.

The Bureau of Meteorology says 90.6 millimetres of rain deluged metropolitan Sydney city between 9pm and 5am.

Rain misses Warragamba Dam

Sydney's September average is 68.6mm, but up to 5am today Parramatta had received 74mm, Granville 73mm and Homebush 62mm.

There was also steady rain on the city's North Shore with Chatswood recording 39mm, Turramurra 32mm and Frenchs Forest 29mm.

However, Sydney Catchment Authority figures show the Warragamba catchment received only 15mm to 9am this morning, not enough to boost the dam level significantly.

In the Hunter and Central Coast, Gosford recorded 30mm and Nora Head 25mm, but it was patchy in some areas with less than 10mm at Cessnock.

In the Illawarra, Wollongong reported 26mm, Bellambi 52mm and Camden 41mm.

[FletcherG1991]

heard about that on the radio..... not good

[Guest Sea Jay]

Sad News!!!!

[Flattieman]

What a shame - he was only trying to help someone out. He sounds like a very kind, selfless person - may he rest in peace.

Flattieman.

[CR@ZY OS@M@]

very sad news