As flood warnings continue and the rain sets in, Mr Cracknell is one of more than 100 volunteers from across the Riverina who are stepping in to prepare for emergency situations. 

Mr Cracknell, along with a pilot and rescue crew officer, arrived in Wagga on Friday with the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter. 

The crew have arrived prepared for anything – having assisted Wagga during the floods in 2012 and returning again in 2016. 

Mr Cracknell vividly recalls jobs during the 2012 floods, where he was called to help countless distressed residents. 

“We would go out to people standing on top of their vehicle in five feet of water,” he said. 

“We wrench them off but if they had’ve fallen off they could have perished. 

“Regardless of how strong a swimmer you are, once the currents come around it doesn’t matter who you are, you’ll drown very quickly.” 

Mr Cracknell has reminded residents to keep out of flood waters and take it easy. 

“We lose too many people from doing that in heavy conditions which are expected this weekend, you just don’t know the depth and where the water is flowing,” he said. 

“If it looks bad it will be bad – don’t attempt to go through it.” 

In working with the SES, Mr Cracknell said the rescuers can quickly become the rescued when subject to difficult conditions. 

“People always attempt to push to get home without patience and their car gets washed away but the SES has to rescue these people,” he said. 

“We are attempting to save someone and sometimes it can get out of hand. 

“We hope nothing happens but if it does – we are ready to go.” 

Prepared to perform reconnaissance flights, emergency evacuations and swift flood rescues, the crew has provided comfort for residents across the Riverina. 

“Hopefully nothing is going to happen but if it does there could be jobs like last time – where we wrenched people off the top of cars, watched trucks going through and breaking down and helped people caught on high ground,” Mr Cracknell said. 

“We are expecting a hell of a lot of rain and flooding and we want to get to isolated farms to help people there or anything to do with people caught out by rising water.”