Probationary Constable Rebekah O'Connor remains composed as she surveys the remnants of Eugowra, a rural village in central western New South Wales, devastated by severe flooding. Two days after an "inland tsunami" struck the area, O'Connor retraces her steps in a police video. She recalls waking up around 4 a.m. on November 14, 2022, to the sound of disaster sirens. The 23-year-old donned her blue police uniform, which she had only recently earned, and remembers the water rising to her ankles as she placed her cattle dog, Milo, in a local's truck before seeking to assist others.

In the video, O'Connor walks past a damaged cottage and recalls hearing a woman’s screams. She describes how the floodwaters reached her chest as she swam toward the cries. Suddenly, a woman appears in the video and embraces O'Connor tightly. "You saved my life," Di Garner exclaims, overwhelmed with emotion. Garner insists, "I would have died," and adds, "But God sent you." The two women share a tearful reunion amid the wreckage of collapsed fences and debris.

O'Connor had cradled Garner in the rising waters and clung to a shrub for an hour until a helicopter rescued them. The officer recalls that they mostly chatted and joked while waiting in the swirling flood. Nearly three years later, O'Connor, now a fully-fledged constable, fought back tears as she watched the video during a coronial inquest into the floods. When asked if she had received training in disaster response, she replied, "No," and confirmed that her actions were driven by "just your own bravery and common sense."

The inquest revealed that O'Connor, Senior Constable Tim Rogers, and numerous local emergency volunteers played crucial roles in preventing a greater tragedy. The town of Eugowra, home to about 800 residents, lost two community members when the floodwaters surged around 9:25 a.m. that day. Diane Smith, 60, was swept away while clinging to a tree, and her body was discovered two days later. Another resident, 85-year-old Ljubisa "Les" Vugec, was last seen in his backyard trying to save his dog. His body was recovered five days later near a dam.

Eugowra residents are accustomed to flooding, with the Mandagery Creek historically breaking its banks. However, the 2022 flood was unprecedented, peaking at 11.02 meters and sweeping away homes, livestock, and vehicles. State Emergency Service zone commander Brigid Rice had been monitoring the situation and feared a disaster was imminent. After heavy rainfall on saturated ground, the Bureau of Meteorology issued a flood alert for Eugowra at 3:49 a.m., predicting a major flood level of nine meters. Rice, however, believed this warning was insufficient based on previous flood experiences.

At 6:12 a.m., the SES sent a geo-targeted text message urging residents in low-lying areas to evacuate immediately. Many residents, including Diane Smith, sought refuge at a bridge in town, believing they would be safe. Smith was later driven to the bridge by a Rural Fire Service truck but never made it to the evacuation center. Local volunteer Patrick Welsh recounted Smith's last words to him, expressing gratitude and humor.

Anne South, another resident, thought her family would be safe on the eastern side of the creek. However, by 9:30 a.m., her home was engulfed in water. She stacked furniture to lift her daughter and newborn granddaughter to safety while struggling to breathe as the water rose. The group was eventually rescued in the afternoon. South expressed her anguish over the situation, fearing for her elderly neighbor, Vugec, whom she had urged to seek shelter.

The inquest aims to provide clarity for the community and the families of those who lost their lives. Counsel assisting the inquiry, Sophie Callan SC, emphasized the importance of understanding the events to prevent future tragedies. "Floods happen; Eugowra had seen them before," she stated. "It's hoped to seek to avoid the loss of lives in the future."