10 January, 1979 O’Briens Creek near Mt Surprise, QLD. 1.20am

During the early part of January, Mr D (ex Royal Navy) was camped in the Topax fields approximately 26 miles west of Mt Surprise. The sighting occurred on one of the few nights it didn’t rain in the area (witness estimate January 10). Mr D had been asleep in his caravan under an open window. After waking and sitting up in his bed, Mr D saw a small light approaching outside from the Georgetown direction. At first he construed this as some “tourists” in the area, but then realized that he was completely cut off by floods.

Mr D said he lit a cigarette and decided to go outside as he had lost sight of the light. Stepping outside he walked around his jeep where he “almost had a heart attack”. At about 300 feet altitude and 300 to 400 yards distance was a huge, round, yellow-orange light. Mr D said he stood watching this object for a considerable time in which he smoked several cigarettes. He noted that no sound or beams of light emanated from it. The object hovered stationery and during the entire sighting Mr D’s three dogs just lay nearby, wide awake without moving. He thought this was strange as they were usually always at his heels.

At one point Mr D thought of using his gun but decided that could prove a mistake. He said the object finally began moving and assumed a “saucer shape with a glowing orange dome on a thin, black base” which showed against the night sky. It moved away to the north-west disappearing behind some hills. Mr D suggested the reason the “object” approached may have been because he had a “hurricane lamp” burning outside his van. He stated it may have been the only light for 100 square miles. He estimated the size of the object as Moon size to approximately a 20 cent piece at arms length. The duration of the sighting was 1 1/4 hours.