A man has become the first fatality of the New South Wales floods after getting stuck in his car in Sydney's north-west.
The bloke was on his way to his first day of work when the road he was driving on became inundated with water.
His new Toyota Camry started sinking on Cattai Ridge Road in Glenorie and he phoned emergency services to ask for help.
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Detective Inspector Chris Laird said the man was on the phone to 000 for 44 minutes before losing contact.
"The triple zero operator did continue to maintain contact with the 25-year-old male as he was in the car," Inspector Laird said.
"However, at 7.04am, it's believed contact was lost with the male. Police arrived on the scene shortly after and were unable to find the car."
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Emergency services arrived a short time after contact was lost and divers were sent in to find his body.
Shockingly, the car was eventually buried under six metres of water and was discovered 30 metres from the edge of the road at around 1:30pm.
Inspector Laird added: "Had he not rung us, we never would have found him. Not until the water receded anyway."
Police believe the man wasn't familiar with the roads and combined with the darkness of the morning, he wasn't aware of the danger of the incoming flood waters.
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"We can only speculate as to why he couldn't get out of the car. Initial examination showed he made all reasonable attempts, and that'll form part of our inquiries as to why he couldn't exit the car," Inspector Laird said.
"You can only just imagine somebody fighting for their life to get out of a car...the damage inside...he clearly couldn't get out."
Police will also investigate whether the car's mechanics played a role in the man's death. Because the Camry was new, it will be a part of the investigation whether the windows and doors didn't open as they're meant to due to water damage.
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Inspector Laird added: "What's happened is a complete tragedy. The fact that he was on the phone for so long is even more tragic ... a man that is possibly about to pass away, and he's on the phone, and the water's rising."
The New South Wales Premier made the devastating revelation that the floods that have wreaked havoc across the state have turned deadly.
She told Parliament yesterday (March 24): "Because it's the early stages I will allow the State Emergency Services to comment further about that at the appropriate time, to make sure arrangements have been made in relation to the next of kin.
"But of course it goes without saying that we extend our heartfelt condolences to all the loved ones of that person and obviously I will allow the State Emergency Services to further outline those details."
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Topics: Australia