Brian Cassey, Alive - Bill & Michelle's Miraculous Escape From Cyclone Jasper (DOCUMENTARY & STREET 2024)

Bill Dunn (73) comforts his wife Michelle Dunn (58) in the ruins of their Degarra home on the banks of the Bloomfield River in Far North Queensland. In the aftermath of Cyclone Jasper in December 23 over two metres of rain turned the river into a raging torrent destroying their home of 38 years and scouring the entire community away. As the waters rose they swam out of their kitchen window and lashed themselves to a tree. When the waters rose too high they feared the worst and let go but were swept to a higher tree which they climbed and spent ten hours before being miraculously rescued by their son in a ‘tinnie’. This image was made as Michelle returned to the house (in background) for the first time following the disaster. The only way into the shattered community was by helicopter.

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