A mother and her son who were killed by a flash flood in Australia were told off by police when they made frantic phone calls for help, an inquiry has heard. Donna Rice and her 13-year-old son Jordan were swept to their deaths when flood water swamped the Queensland city of Toowoomba in January.
Their deaths received worldwide publicity because Jordan bravely requested that rescuers save his younger brother Blake first - a decision that cost him his life.
An official inquiry into the flooding disaster has been played audio tapes of 
It took 28 rings before the first call from Donna Rice was answered by an operator, who yelled at her: "Why did you drive through flooded waters?"
The officer then asked her to spell her name several times, before she requested a tow truck.
He responded: "You ring the tow truck company yourself."
She hung up when the officer told her he was getting lots of phone calls from people affected by the flooding.
A short time later Jordan rang the Australian 000 emergency line.
The officer who answered told him to tell the woman who was next to him to "stop yelling".
Jordan pleaded: "We're nearly drowning, hurry up please."
In the background, his mother could be heard shouting "Get on the roof!"
Family and friends of Ms Rice wept in court as the calls were played. Read More
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