2011 FLOOD SURVIVOR'S PLEA: ‘DON'T BE TOO PROUD TO ACCEPT HELP'

A WIDOWER WHOSE WIFE AND SON DROWNED IN FLOODS 11 YEARS AGO OFFERS HIS ADVICE

- Keeley Henderson

One father who lost members of his family in the 2011 Queensland floods has issued a heartfelt plea to those affected by the current devastating natural disaster: “Don’t be too proud to accept help.”

John Tyson’s 13-year-old son, Jordan Rice, and his childhood sweetheart Donna were the ones who passed away. John tells New Idea: “People really, really tried to help me and give me a lot of money.

“But I insisted it went to the Premier’s flood fund. I don’t know whether it was my ego or stupidity, but now I wish I would’ve humbly accepted.”

The toll of losing his family left John emotionally crippled. Unable to continue running his successful small businesses, he eventually became destitute and homeless. While 11 years have passed, for John it still feels like yesterday.

Jordan, his little brother Blake, then 10, and Donna were trapped on the roof of their car after a wall of water tore through the Lockyer Valley. They made several harrowing calls to the emergency services, but help never came.