"It’s Mental": Vulnerable Residents Carried to Safety in Berhampore Flood Rescue

Dramatic rescues unfolded on Akatea Street as emergency services carried vulnerable residents through meter-high floodwaters. Read Luke Furness’s eyewitness account.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 20, 2026, 4:54 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

Crisis on Akatea Street

Resident Luke Furness was awoken by police in the early hours as they began a mass evacuation of Akatea Street. Looking out his window, Furness described a scene he "didn't expect to see" submerged cars and neighbors in extreme distress as water surged through their properties.

The rescue of his immediate neighbors was particularly emotional. Furness watched as emergency crews carried an elderly blind man and another person in a wheelchair through the rising tide.

"He literally turned up to my house in bare feet, undies so I had to get him some clothes, dry them off. They were in tears... it's pretty sad to see."

Furness provided temporary refuge, clothing, and warmth before transporting the displaced residents to the Wellington City Mission, which he described as "hectic" as it struggled to accommodate the influx of storm victims.

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