A CAIRNS woman who was swept to her death in floodwaters tried desperately to cling to her son but was wrenched from his grip.
Cameron Grieve, 18, grabbed his mother, Pauline Grieve, 47, and hung on to her as long as he could after she got into trouble in a flash flood at a popular swimming hole near Rockhampton where 18 people were rescued on Sunday.
"He was hanging on to the (creek) bank too from what I hear," Pauline’s brother-in-law Dean Grieve told The Cairns Post.
"It was quite a while, he did all he could.
"When she was washed further down, he went down after her but he lost sight of his mum."
Cameron was one of 18 people rescued after a "wall of water" at Bouldercombe Gorge Resources Reserve washed some swimmers downstream and left others stranded on an island until they were saved.
Mrs Grieve's body was found several hours later.
Mr Grieve, from Mission Beach, said his sister-in-law had been enjoying the afternoon with her son and daughter, Kiera, 16, and other relatives at a spot that was usually known for its low water level.
"Recent rain meant there was more there (water) than normal and a lot of people were out there swimming," he said.
"It (storm water) apparently came out of nowhere," Mr Grieve said.
The group, which also included Mrs Grieve's sister, Lara, got into trouble as they tried to cross the swollen creek.
Mrs Grieve and her husband, Clinton, were long-time Cairns residents who had spent the past eight years at Gympie and Mt Morgan but who were planning to re-settle in the Far North, Mr Grieve said.
His brother, Clinton, had recently returned for work and was in Cairns when he was called about his wife’s death and his children's lucky escapes.
"It's been terrible, we're all so far away," Dean Grieve said.
"And to have Cameron and Kiera go through all this."
Mrs Grieve and her husband worked for several years at Cairns business Typewriter and Office Supplies and Mrs Grieve had also been employed at other Cairns shops and restaurants over the years, he said.
"She was a great mother, a good wife, just a good down-to-earth person," he said last night.
"She always put her kids first.
"Right now, we're all in shock. Out of the blue comes a wall of water and this happens."
Bouldercombe Royal Hotel publican Gordon Carters said the gorge was a popular swimming spot and he was shocked by the tragedy.
He said the town had 70mm of rain in 15 minutes on Sunday afternoon during a storm and this contributed to the unexpected torrent of water in the gorge.
