Published: 15 hrs ago
Updated: 13 hrs ago
3 min read

Man’s body found in burnt-out car in Cooplacurripa, NSW

Emergency services were unable to access the property for several days due to severe weather in the area.

NSW flood disaster

Man’s body found in burnt-out car in Cooplacurripa, NSW

Emergency services were unable to access the property for several days due to severe weather in the area.

A man’s body has been found at a property in a flood-affected area on NSW’s Mid-North Coast.

The man in his 80s was found in a burnt-out vehicle inside a shed in Cooplacurripa, about 50km northwest of Taree, on Friday.

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A concern for welfare was initially raised for the man on Wednesday when a shed was reported to be on fire and the man could not be contacted for several days.

Emergency services were unable to access the property by road due to flooding and landslides in the area, with air crews eventually gaining access on Friday.

Police Rescue officers onboard a helicopter searched the property about 1pm and located the body.

The body has not yet been formally identified but police believe it to be the occupant of the house.

Police will investigate the man’s death and a report will be prepared for coroner.

Flood-related deaths in the region has now risen to five, with 50,000 people still isolated.

Recovery efforts are under way for communities hardest hit including Taree, Kempsey, Dungog, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, with essential supply drops delivered by boat and helicopter.

About 50,000 people remain isolated in the Hunter and Mid-North Coast regions of NSW due to flooding.
About 50,000 people remain isolated in the Hunter and Mid-North Coast regions of NSW due to flooding. Credit: 7NEWS

Farmers are also beginning to take stock of their losses after cattle were washed down rivers and many properties suffered significant damage.

More than 1600 insurance claims have already been made, according to the Insurance Council of Australia.

Assistance grants of $180 per person or $900 for families are expected to roll out in coming days and those unable to work in the hardest-hit areas will have access to disaster recovery allowance from Monday.

By Friday evening, the flood-related death toll had risen to five, with the SES confirming its crews had conducted 736 flood rescues since the flooding began.

The body of a man in his late 70s was also found on Friday after his vehicle appeared to be swept off a causeway at Nana Glen near Coffs Harbour.

Another man died at a flooded home near Taree, as did a driver west of Port Macquarie and a 60-year-old woman near Coffs Harbour.

A man missing in Nymboida has been found but police have not ruled out floods as a factor in the disappearance of another man in Bellingen.

Police helping residents.
Police helping residents. Credit: 7NEWS

Volunteers are focusing on getting supplies to the 50,000 people isolated by floodwaters.

And as the rain eases, another weather problem is on its way, with strong winds expected to batter the state.

Senior meteorologist Angus Hines said a powerful windy cold front would sweep across parts of Australia in the coming days.

“As soon as one weather system leaves the state, we start lining up the next one already,” he said.

“The main threat looks to be the damaging wind gusts that this front will bring.

“Extensive damage and possibly destructive winds across almost all of NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, SA and southern Queensland all seeing some of the wind as well.”

Increased wind on Monday and Tuesday could also uproot trees and buildings from sodden soil.

“Because we’ve got these saturated soils we’re going to see loosened root systems and we will see trees come down,” NSW State Emergency Service Chief Superintendent Dallas Burnes warned.

Disaster assistance has been expanded, with 19 areas eligible for support.

— With AAP

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