Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
National
Cheryl Goodenough

'Hero' officers rescued colleagues, retrieved bodies

Senior Sergeant Christina Esselink said she heard big and close bangs from a high-calibre rifle. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

Emotional police officers have been hailed as heroes after telling an inquest how they rescued a colleague and retrieved bodies while under fire at a remote Queensland property.

After parking in the driveway of the Wieambilla property to stop shooters escaping in a vehicle, Senior Sergeant Christina Esselink heard the "bang, bang, bang" of shots from a high calibre rifle.

"This was big and it was close, and I thought we're in trouble," she told Brisbane Coroners Court on Friday.

As she was trying to find cover, another officer screamed at Sen Sgt Esselink to run.

"I've just bolted over and he sort of lifted me and shoved me from behind."

Sen Sgt Esselink was giving evidence at an inquest into the shooting deaths of Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow and neighbour Alan Dare who were ambushed and shot by Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train on December 12, 2022.

The Trains were killed in a gunfight with specialist police that night on the property in the Western Downs area, west of Brisbane.

Asked if it would have been possible to take Mr Dare's body from the scene after parking her vehicle, Sen Sgt Esselink said: "I thought about it but he had been murdered and it was a crime scene, and it was just shots and gunfire and we had nowhere to put him.

"It was sort of respectful to leave him … where he was. Everything was just crazy, crazy at the time."

Sergeant Werner Crous
Sergeant Werner Crous said he got four car-loads of volunteers to go into the danger zone. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

Sergeant Werner Crous told the inquest about an extraction team sent to rescue Constable Keely Brough who hid in grassland near a burnt-out vehicle after her colleagues were killed and retrieve the bodies of the two officers.

Sgt Crous thought not more than four officers would volunteer knowing there was "a deadly thing going on" and he anticipated leading the team, he told the inquest.

"Instead of just getting four people being willing to enter this dangerous situation, I got four car-loads of people."

One of those officers, Senior Constable Duncan Miller, said Const Brough had no physical injuries but was visibly traumatised when she was rescued.

A triple-zero operator speaking to Const Brough provided code words which Sen Const Miller yelled out so she would know officers were nearby rather than the attackers.

Senior Constable Duncan Miller
Senior Constable Duncan Miller said his rescued colleague had no injuries but was traumatised. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

Const Brough ran, holding her firearm until Sen Const Miller yelled to holster her weapon.

"Then she's launched herself over the fence," he told the inquest, tearing up.

Asked if anyone hesitated before the extraction, Senior Constable Andrew Gates told the inquest: "Everyone was there voluntarily and everyone was prepared to do what needed to be done."

At the property's entrance he saw the vehicle gutted by fire and Mr Dare's body but kept moving, feeling like he was in a "fatal funnel" or a kill zone where there isn't any cover.

After Const Keely was rescued, Sen Const Gates and his colleagues struggled to put the bodies of Constables McCrow and Arnold into a vehicle before leaving the property after a police helicopter arrived.

L to R, Duncan Miller, Werner Crous, Andrew Gates and Ian Leavers
Senior Constable Andrew Gates said all the officers were "prepared to do what needed to be done". (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

Legal representatives for officers and the police commissioner, and State Coroner Terry Ryan, thanked the officers for their bravery and leadership.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said the officers are heroes who showed extreme bravery while in danger.

Their actions have finally been acknowledged by the police service nearly two years after the shooting, he told media outside the court. 

"It disappoints me incredibly ... I think it could have been done a lot sooner." 

The inquest is set to continue for at least another four weeks.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.