Wave of tributes for Moto farmer David Knowles following death in NSW flooding disaster

A beloved farmer who turned away rescuers so a neighbouring family could be helped out of a NSW flood disaster zone first had lived his life prioritising others, his daughter says.

The family of David Knowles is facing unimaginable heartbreak as they grieve the grandfather and weigh up whether to rebuild — just four years after a similar catastrophe in 2021 wiped out everything they had.

WATCH THE VIDEO: Relentless floods ravage New South Wales.

David, 63, was found in waist-deep water on the verandah of his property in Moto, near Taree, around 3pm on Wednesday.

He had earlier declined to board a rescue boat and escape the dangerous floodwaters from the rising Landsdowne River, telling emergency crews to focus on another family upstream.

His daughter, Roxy Knowles, said her father was in incredibly high spirits during their last conversation at 5pm on Tuesday, laughing about falling into the water several times while trying to protect his cattle.

“He was so happy. He was alone and he was cold but he didn’t care. He was just stoked to have got the cows in,” she told 7NEWS.com.au.

“We’re taking comfort that he was doing what he loved, he was in a place that he loved.

“Even if he had a broken leg and that boat came back, I think he still would have sent them away to help others first.

“That was him, that was always him. He put others before himself. He had a heart of gold.”

David had lived on the property for nearly 50 years and had weathered droughts and floods that had “broken his heart too many times” before.

He was well-known in the community for his generosity, and news of his death prompted a wave of tributes.

“This bloke never said a bad word about anybody ever, and always helped anybody when he could,” read one tribute online.

“He and myself and several others had helped rescue a number of people on several occasions in the past.

“This whole area has always been really flood prone.”

Another said: “He was a pleasure to know as a neighbour and friend.”

“I remember him saying often about his place on the river, ‘this is not my land. I’m just looking after it for the next generation’.

“A true Aussie farmer.”

A third tribute simply called him a “hero”.

“He was so many things to so many people,” Kayla Greenhalgh wrote on a GoFundMe set up to support his family.

“Dave unfortunately lost his life on his property, declining assistance in order to save a family further upstream.

“We salute his effort and praise his heart, but now it’s time to pick up the pieces and give that man the send off he deserves. He is a HERO.”

Roxy said the family is in shock and facing the daunting reality of rebuilding for the second time in four years.

Their land — which includes the main house, a specially designed residence for David’s disabled son, and a milk shed — is now underwater.

“It’s heartbreaking. We’re all very nervous. We don’t know how we’ll do it again, don’t know if we have the energy to rebuild it,” Roxy told 7NEWS.com.au.

“Everyone’s just in shock and thinking about dad.

“He was a selfless hero.”

Loved ones, along with NSW Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell, believe a pre-existing medical condition may have contributed to David’s death.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

The death toll from the record-breaking floods is now at four after a man in his 70s was found dead in his car near a causeway at Nana Glen, close to Coffs Harbour.

He is the third driver to lose his life since the region was hit by torrential rain and fast-rising floodwaters on Tuesday.

It is the third death of a driver since the mid-north coast was inundated with heavy rainfall and rapidly rising floodwaters on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced personal hardship assistance grants of $180 per individual and $900 per family would begin rolling out in the coming days.

Those unable to work in the worst-hit areas will be able to access a disaster recovery allowance from Monday afternoon.

“Tragically, we’re seeing more extreme weather events. They’re occurring more frequently and they’re more intense,” PM Anthony Albanese said.

More than 1,600 insurance claims have already been lodged, according to the Insurance Council of Australia.

The SES has carried out 736 flood rescues, but with fewer emergency calls coming in, the focus has shifted to delivering supplies to the 50,000 people still cut off by floodwaters.

The slow-moving trough that dumped months’ worth of rain over the mid-north coast has shifted south, bringing heavy falls to the Hunter, Blue Mountains, Sydney and Southern Highlands.

While this may bring dry conditions to flood-ravaged areas, residents are still at risk.

“There are waters still moving quite quickly through the river systems, and a lot of debris around, so it’s quite dangerous,” said Jane Golding from the Bureau of Meteorology.