Australian police rescue floodwater airbed trio

Three teenagers from Ipswich in Queensland have been arrested after trying to use inflatable mattresses to ride floodwaters to central Brisbane more than 20 miles (30 kilometres) away.



Two 17-year-olds and an 18-year-old were caught jumping into the swollen Bremer River yesterday afternoon and attempting to ride the current downstream to Southbank in Brisbane's CBD. The teenagers entered the fast-flowing river around noon (AEST) at the entrance with Ironpot Creek on Gregory and Sydney streets.



Police received 10 triple-0 calls reporting the teenagers, who made it 15 kilometres downstream on single bed blow-up air mattresses. After extensive police and SES patrols, the trio was found about 500 metres south of the Warrego Highway bridge.



They were rescued from the river around 2:30pm. Police later described their behaviour as "foolish and dangerous". The teenagers, from West Ipswich and Redbank Plains, have been issued with a notice to appear in court for public nuisance.