https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-...per-/103244364
The Lion's Den had always been known as being able to withstand the worst flood the region had ever seen.
But now Mr Dear and his mates were watching the 143-year-old pub be consumed, trapping more than a dozen people on its roof.
"The story always has been up here, that the biggest flood went halfway up the bar.
"But in this flood there were 16 people on the apex of the Lion's Den roof, hanging on," he said.
As they watched, a mustering helicopter swooped overhead.
"I must say that this fella is the real hero of the story, his name is Magoo," he said.
The helicopter was a Robinson 22 — a tiny single-engine chopper with just two seats — so the rescue would be done one person at a time.
"He made 16 trips and landed on that roof in the pissing rain, where no other chopper pilot would fly," Mr Dear said.
"He rescued every one of those people.
"While we were rescuing these other dudes, he was just running people back and forward."