Peter Wells: Tributes flow for granddad killed when his car was swept away by Queenland floodwaters during massive rain bomb descending across Australia’s east coast
A grandfather whose mother was swept away by water has been remembered as a kind member of his community and car enthusiast.
Peter Wells, 71, was driving overnight near his home on Begley Rd in Greenbank, south-west Brisbane, when his car became submerged.
The flood was caused by heavy rain that had enormous consequences parts of New South Wales And Queensland in the coming three days.
Only Greenbank managed to obtain 150mm in one night.
Mr Wells’ ute was found 50 meters down a river embankment, wedged between trees, on a private property about 5.20am on Thursday.
Peter Wells (pictured) was found dead in his boat, which was swept away by floods overnight
Mr Wells’ (pictured) ute was found 50 meters down a river embankment, wedged between trees, on a private property about 5.20am on Thursday
Friend and neighbor Keith Draper told us Courier mail the grandfather was a true family man who enjoyed helping his community.
He was known around the world for collecting vintage Chevrolets.
‘I only met him eight or nine years ago and we became really good friends. We did a lot of things for each other, car things. He was just a nice man,” Mr. Draper said.
‘I just can’t believe he died this way. Just down the road from his own house.’
Mr Draper described Mr Wells as a “humble” man and panel beater who worked on vintage vehicles.
He recalled how Mr. Wells often helped him with his own mechanic business.
“He would drop everything and help me,” Mr. Draper said.
Mr Wells is survived by his wife Beverley, children and grandchildren.
Mr Draper said the couple were high school sweethearts.
“He always told stories about how he would take her away in his father’s car, how he would woo her.”
The rain was expected to start falling in south-east Queensland on Thursday morning before moving into New South Wales in the afternoon.
Greenbank experienced 150mm of torrential rain overnight and Thursday as part of a rain bomb that hit Queensland and NSW (photo, damage in Greenbank)
The heaviest weather will be seen on Friday, with widespread rainfall of 50mm to 100mm expected to fall from Brisbane to the NSW south coast.
A major flood warning has been issued for the River Bremer in Wallonia, with moderate flooding already developing in the area.
Weatherzone’s Joel Pippard said: “Some models show rainfall of up to 80-150mm in just six hours, with heavy thunderstorms possible in these regions,” he said.
‘Similar heavy falls are also possible for the NSW Northern Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains, and Queensland’s Darling Downs and Granite Belt during Thursday and Friday mornings.’
Thunderstorms were also possible over northeastern NSW and southeastern Queensland on Thursday afternoon.
High swells and gusts of up to 100 km/h are also forecast.
The reason for the wild weather is the combination of an upper-level low-pressure system and a coastal trough forming off the east coast.
This coastal trough will drain tropical moisture from the north, resulting in intense rainfall.
Mr Wells was described as a ‘humble’ man and panel beater who worked on vintage vehicles (pictured, Mr Wells’ ute)
Miriam Bradbury from the Bureau of Meteorology warned that the heaviest rains and strongest winds will occur on Friday.
“As we move through the latter part of Thursday into Friday, we will see the most severe weather begin to increase as a trough deepens off the east coast of NSW,” she said.
“Rainfall of this magnitude could lead to flash flooding.”
The wild weather will diminish on Saturday as the system moves further south.