Justice · Smothering CreekFraser Coast flood death: James Hansen, 57, identifiedAired October 27, 2026 at 3:57 AM UTCWritten October 27, 2026 at 4:08 AM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Emergency crews declared dairy farmer James Hansen dead at a flooded creek.0:10The former councillor represented rural communities for years, and his family and0:15friends are now mourning his death.0:16Police are investigating what brought him into the water and why he died.0:20Fraser Coast Regional Council identified Hansen as the man found unresponsive in0:23floodwaters at Smothering Creek.0:25He was fifty-seven and a fourth generation resident of the region.0:29His working life remained rooted in dairy farming.0:31Emergency services received the call shortly after eleven in the morning on Monday,0:34October26,2026 .0:37Crews declared him dead when they arrived.0:39Police publicly confirmed his death that afternoon.0:42The call time tells us when help was requested, rather than precisely when Hansen0:46was found.0:47Smothering Creek lies in the rural area west of Maryborough on Queensland's Fraser0:51Coast.0:51Police initially placed the discovery at Boompa Road in Boompa.0:54The precise crossing description still needs clarification.0:57Two different road and locality descriptions have been given for Smothering Creek.1:01The later description places it at Bruina, Woluga Road in Morodian, southwest of1:05Maryborough.1:06It isn't clear whether both descriptions refer to the same crossing.1:09Hansen's ties to the area reached well beyond his time in elected office.1:13He worked among the farming communities he represented, and the council's tribute1:17remembered both parts of his life.1:18Hansen served one term on the former Wuku Shire Council from two thousand and four1:22to two thousand and eight.1:23He later represented Division One on Fraser Coast Regional Council for three terms,1:27from two thousand and twelve to two thousand and twenty-four.1:30Mayor George Seymour served alongside Hansen on Fraser Coast Regional Council for1:33twelve years.1:34He offered his sincere condolences to Hansen's family and remembered the years1:38Hansen gave to representing his community.1:40Seymour called Hansen one of the region's last dairy farmers and praised his strong1:44connections to rural communities.1:46He described him as a passionate advocate for primary producers, saying he always1:50stood up for his beliefs.1:52Seymour described the loss as sudden and tragic, and extended his thoughts to1:56Hansen's family and friends.1:58Rescuers also helped people elsewhere in Queensland on Monday.2:01Six campers were rescued at Labourne on the Southern Downs after two caravans became2:05stranded by Fast.2:06Flowing floodwater.2:07Two drivers were rescued from flooded cars in Warwick and nearby Rosenthal Heights.2:18Those rescues followed several swift water operations across the state since2:21Thursday.2:22On Monday, forecasters warned that damaging winds and flash flooding were possible2:26in southern and south east Queensland, with some thunderstorms potentially becoming2:30severe.2:30A moderate flood warning remained in place for the Merri River on Monday.2:34The Bureau of Meteorology warned that afternoon showers and thunderstorms could2:38cause renewed river rises, even as the expected flood peak at Maryborough had been2:42revised lower.2:43Earlier that morning, Seymour said the region's outlook had been downgraded2:46significantly.2:47He expected Maryborough's peak towards midday, lower than some earlier predictions,2:51and said he thought the worst had passed.2:53Police haven't determined Hansen's cause of death, including whether floodwater2:56caused it.2:57They're investigating the circumstances and will prepare a report for the coroner.3:01No completion date or coronial finding has been announced.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗
