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Toowoomba flood survivor 'bullied'

A Toowoomba boy who survived a wall of water which killed his mum and brother has been the target of 'callous' bullying.

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Source: AAP


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A Toowoomba boy who survived a wall of water which killed his mum and brother has been the target of 'callous' bullying.

Toowoomba's local newspaper The Chronicle says Blake Rice, 10, has been bullied by a group of teenagers who used sticks to assault him, breaking his collarbone.

A family friend, Debbie Anderson, told the paper that certain members of the community had "laughed in our face about Jordan's death".

The attacks are believed to be about the ongoing media attention Blake has received for surviving the January 10 flash flood after his brother Jordan, 13, who was afraid of water, selflessly insisted a rescuer take his brother first.

As Blake was plucked to safety, Jordan died alongside his mother Donna Rice, 43, as their car was swept away.

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Blake has met Prime Minister Julia Gillard during her tour of flood-affected Queensland and he has also met Prince William during his tour last month.

Premier Anna Bligh says she is disgusted by the callous attack on Blake.

"This attack is the very worst in behaviour," Ms Bligh was quoted in the paper as saying.

She said Blake has been through too much already.

"By all reports this was a cowardly assault by a group ganging up on a smaller boy," she said.

"What makes it worse is that Blake was attacked at this low point in his life simply because he has attracted media attention.

"That is incredibly callous, cruel and senseless."

The Rice family is planning to leave Toowoomba, the paper says.


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