By Annabelle Tukia
Heavy rain has been wreaking havoc on the West Coast of the South Island, flooding homes and leaving dozens of motorists stranded.
The worst of the downpour has been centred around Greymouth causing the Grey River to breach it's banks.
And a farmer had to be plucked from a raging torrent by emergency services while rescuing sheep on his farm near coal creek.
Locals are calling it the worst flooding in 20 or 30 years. Flood waters are lapping at homes and stock is left with no where to turn. The speed in which the waters rose took many by surprise.
“I got up to milk the cows this morning at five o'clock,” says dairy farmer Don Kirby. “There was hardly any water, about by seven o’clock it was covering the paddocks and by about mid-morning it covered the road and we've just been locked in ever since.”
Betty and Mason Woolhouse have lived at Totara Flat for 50 years and do not remember flooding ever being this bad. Their garage is partially submerged and flood waters are licking at their home.
Near Coal Creek it became a case of the rescuer requiring rescue.
An elderly farmer nearly drowned trying to save sheep from this flooded paddock.
Emergency services plucked him and his dogs from the water.
The deluge caused long delays for motorists, with sections of State Highway 6 and seven being closed due to slips and flooding.
The delays were eased by typical West Coast hospitality, where a local farmer took stranded motorists in for a cup of tea and lunch.
The real concern will be later tonight. 250 millimetres of rain has fallen in the last 24 hours and emergency services are on high alert.
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