Flood- stricken Koala now safe

A rain -soaked koala has found fame after its attempts to escape floods in Australia by sitting on a fence post landed him on the front page of an Adelaide newspaper.

The forlorn animal was photographed crouching on a post as flood waters rushed underneath.

Emergency services have been working to rescue animals and people affected by the heavy rain and floods.

This koala was spotted and rescued by South Australian plumber Russell Latter on Wednesday afternoon as flood waters rose in the Adelaide Hills.

A staggering 120mm of rain was recorded in 24 hours.

Latter said: “He couldn’t get to the other side because it was flooded, so I coaxed him gently across the bridge.”

The koala perched on a fence post as it decided what to do, then perched in a gum tree.

In another rescue mission, children and teachers were saved from a primary school southwest of Adelaide when it was cut off by flood waters.

Police said everyone was accounted for after the rescue.