Northern NSW flood victim 'in shock' as generous teenager hands over keys to his car

Harry Ledger surprises flood victim Dylan Simpson with the keys to his car. (Supplied: Natasha Shearer)

A flood victim has broken down in tears after a 17-year-old handed him the keys to his car in northern New South Wales.

Dylan Simpson lost his rental accommodation and car in floodwaters that inundated his property at Kingscliff during February and has been couch surfing ever since. 

He has also been cycling to work at the local bowls club but on Sunday teenager Harry Ledger surprised him with his car keys.

Natasha Shearer, who helped facilitate the charitable gesture, said Mr Simpson was overcome.

"We brought him out to the car, we told him we had a few things for him in the car and, the next thing, Harry handed him the keys.

"He cried, he couldn't believe it.

"He was very, very appreciative and in shock."

Flood victim Dylan Simpson is overcome by emotion after being gifted a car. (Supplied: Natasha Shearer)

Harry with 'no regrets'

The 17-year-old from Kiama, south of Sydney, said he travelled to Lismore with his family in the aftermath of the recent flood events that had devastated the region.

"When we'd heard and saw everything that was happening up there we decided one weekend we would go up there and help out," Harry said.

The Ledger family also donated their time and $3,000 in cash and products before they returned to Kiama.

Harry said he had no regrets and was thankful he was able to help.

"When you really look and understand what's happening there and the devastation … it seems like it's the least you can do," he said.

Lismore is a scene of devastation following the 2022 floods. (ABC News: Gavin Coote)

Ms Shearer said the year 12 student felt he needed to do more.

"He bought it four months ago and decided that he wanted to do more and wished he could do more for people up here who are flood-affected.

"He was over the moon that he could give it to someone who really needed it."

More needed

Ms Shearer, who is helping with the flood recovery, said Mr Simpson was chosen because he was so badly affected, but there were many hundreds of people in a similar situation.

"It's going to be months and months and months … there are so many people still homeless."

The Tweed Shire Council said 2,100 properties had been damaged and 500 homes were declared uninhabitable across the region as a result of the flooding.