The 57-year-old man found dead in floodwaters on Queensland’s Fraser Coast has been identified as local dairy farmer and former councillor James Hansen.
Mr Hansen was a fourth-generation resident who served as Division 1 councillor for the Fraser Coast Regional Council between 2012 and 2024.
His identity was confirmed in a statement from Fraser Coast Regional Council.
Emergency services were called to Smothering Creek at Boompa Road in Boompa, west of Maryborough, just after 11am, after Boompa Road recorded 148 millimetres of rain within 24 hours on Sunday.
Officers declared the man deceased upon arrival.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner, as investigations into the cause of death continue.
Several areas of the Fraser Coast has seen flooding over the past few days. (Supplied: Fraser Coast Regional Council)
Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour expressed his “sincere condolences” to Mr Hansen’s family, while remembering “the many years he gave to representing his community”.
“As one of the region’s last dairy farmers, James had strong connections to our rural communities and was a passionate advocate for primary producers. He always stood up for his beliefs,” Mr Seymour said.
“My thoughts are with James’ family and friends as they come to terms with this sudden and tragic loss.
Mr Hansen also served one term on the former Woocoo Shire Council from 2004 to 2008 before his three terms on Fraser Coast Regional Council.
A moderate flood warning remains in place for the Mary River on the Fraser Coast.
The Bureau of Meteorology said showers and thunderstorms forecast for Monday afternoon could cause renewed river level rises.
Earlier on Monday, Mr Seymour said the region’s outlook had been “downgraded significantly”.
“We’ll see the peak in Maryborough later this morning, towards midday, and it is quite a bit lower than some of the predictions we got from BoM.
“I think we’re over the worst of it.”
Emergency services were called to Smothering Creek in Boompa just after 11am on Monday. (ABC News)
Mr Hansen’s death follows several swift-water rescue operations across the state since Thursday.
Six campers were rescued at Leyburn, on the Southern Downs, just after 11am today after two caravans became stranded by fast-flowing floodwater.
Two people were also rescued from flooded cars in the Southern Downs early this morning.
Boompa Road recorded 148 millimetres of rain within 24 hours on Sunday. (ABC News: James Taylor)
A woman was trapped in her car in Warwick about 3:30am. A second driver was rescued from nearby Rosenthal Heights half an hour later.
Damaging winds and flash flooding remain possible this afternoon in southern and south-east Queensland, with some storms potentially becoming severe.