On Monday in flood-ravaged Lismore, Crystal Bock had fled her house in the town's centre after it was completely inundated.
But the loss of all her belongings was the last thing on her mind.
She feared her father, Stuart Bock, was the missing elderly man reported on the news.
"There was a report of a man who went down the storm drains on Sunday afternoon — and it's definitely part of a fear that's been coming up for us a lot," she told 7.30.
She and her sister Amanda hadn't heard from him, although this wasn't unusual in normal circumstances.
But given his beloved Lismore had been flooded, they were worried when he hadn't called.
"Especially with my house gone, it was really strange that he hadn't called," Crystal recalled.
She and her sister took to social media, making a desperate call for anyone who had any information.
But on Wednesday afternoon, their worst fears were realised when the body of Stuart Bock was recovered from the floodwaters.
'Everybody who knew him absolutely loved him'
Stuart Bock's family said he was well aware of flood dangers and was knowledgeable of the surrounding area — but his innate desire to help may have caused his death.
His daughters suspect he was fatally washed away by the raging waters while attempting to help a mate.
"He's just got a heart of gold. Everyone would say that about him," Amanda told 7.30.
"Everyone who knew him absolutely loved him.
Both sisters have thanked the community for their support and efforts to find their father.
They said it would be almost impossible to recover from the tragedy, but they would take inspiration from their father's resilient spirit.
"Dad's always someone who bounced back on his feet," Crystal said.
"He's always coming back, from a lot of things in his life."
