The jet ski hero joining Cairns' flood rescue mission

As the flow on effects of Cyclone Jasper serves Cairns its biggest flood in more than a century, many locals have fled to safety.

But resident Boe Willcox decided to face the disaster head-on, rescuing more than 20 people on the back of his jet ski.

He spoke to A Current Affair about the moment he decided he would risk his safety to help stranded community members.

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"There was actually a video posted on social media of a dad at Holloways Beach stuck in his house in chest deep water," he said.

"When he shone that camera on the Christmas tree and said his kids' Christmas was no more, it kind of made me wake up to myself and want to go out and help, considering I was sitting in a dry house out of water."

Willcox began his rescue mission near Machans Beach, travelling down the main street inundated with flood water.

"I just started calling out to people to see if they needed assistance, if they needed to get out or needed any supplies," Willcox said.

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The first group he rescued was a mum and her two children, aged one and nine.

"They were actually in their neighbour's house, on the second floor," he said.

"Her house was under, same as the car and she just wanted to get out of there, they were scared, especially the one-year-old."

Willcox said his own safety did not cross his mind during the rescue.

"All I was thinking about was the kids and the elderly stuck in their houses and how scared they would've been all night."

It was more than floodwaters that posed a danger to Willcox and the stranded residents.

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"Well on my first trip out I actually passed about a four-metre crocodile, it was about half a metre away from me.

"He was heading out of the flood water and I was heading in and he was probably thinking, 'you're going the wrong way mate'."

The weather system that caused the flooding caught many by surprise and as a result, Willcox said emergency services were underprepared.

"Yesterday the help came but through the night, the day before, yeah a lot of the locals at Holloways and Machans Beach ... there was very little support for them from the SES and Navy," he said.

"They were actually saying that I'd done more in about four hours than some of the emergency services did through the night, which is a bit unfortunate."

Watch the full interview above.