A Black Hawk helicopter has successfully retrieved 14 cars that were swept into the sea following unprecedented flash floods in Victoria.

On Thursday morning, authorities commenced the recovery operation at Wye River and Cumberland River along Victoria’s Surf Coast. This action followed a week after torrential rains wreaked havoc in the region.

According to an update from Victoria’s State Emergency Service, by midday, 12 vehicles had been recovered from the Cumberland River, and two from the Wye River.

All the retrieved vehicles were safely transported to a designated car park.

The Great Ocean Road, which had been closed to facilitate the helicopter’s recovery efforts, reopened early Thursday afternoon between Lorne and Skenes Creek, once the operation had concluded.

Victoria’s State Emergency Service said 14 vehicles were recovered on Thursday. Source: Supplied

The salvage operation took about three hours.

“And whilst there has already been two salvaged from the shallow shore break at Wye River, there is another two that we know of in below the surf,” SES chief officer Alistair Drayton said.

A number of caravans had also disintegrated under the surface of the water, he said.

Vehicles were lifted to a car park on the road and then trucked to another area for owners or insurers to inspect.

The helicopter was organised by marine salvage experts who Parks Victoria use when vessels run into trouble along the Great Ocean Road.

More than 178mm of rain fell in the area over a period of six hours last Thursday, with the Lorne station registering its highest 24-hour reading since records began in 1884.

Cars washed into the surf after flash flooding near the Wye River last week. Source: AAP / Michael Currie

Hundreds of people were displaced, with a child injured and flown to hospital.

The area is a popular tourist spot, welcoming thousands of holidaymakers over school holidays.

Water quality in the area has returned to normal, Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority confirmed on Wednesday.

Risk to human health from swimming is considered likely to be low, but the regulator cautioned people to wear gloves, goggles and rubber boots while cleaning up.

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