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8 months ago
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A fisherman who was one of three killed when their boat capsized off the coast of South Australia had beaten cancer twice, his shattered loved ones have revealed - as a top academic and his son survived the horror fishing trip.
Five people were onboard the ill-fated boat when it capsized at about 4pm on Monday, near Spilsby Island off Port Lincoln.
Flinders University Professor Danny Eckert, 44, and his 12-year-old son were found clinging to a reef at about 2am on Tuesday.
The pair were winched to safety after spending more than 10 hours in freezing waters and taken to Port Lincoln Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Tragically, they were the only survivors, with Danny's father Paul, 73, brother Tom, 40, and Paul's close friend and captain Alan Bottrill, 71, all killed when their 6.2-metre boat was struck by a freak wave.
Alan Bottrill, 71, was among three fishermen killed when their boat capsized off the coast of South Australia on Monday afternoon
The bodies of Tom Eckert (left), his father Paul Eckert (right) and Mr Bottrill were found in the water by emergency crews on Tuesday
Mr Bottrill's wife Pamela and their children Rónán and Amélie said in a statement the 71-year-old had battled cancer twice.
'Alan was 71 years old and still very much an adventurer who loved fishing, golfing and travelling with friends and family,' the statement read.
'He leaves behind a wife, two children and two grandchildren who will miss him very much.'
Ms Bottrill said her husband was an experienced fisherman, who 'never' imagined he'd be killed doing the hobby he loves.
She said the group had taken off in 'calm seas' on the day of the accident.
'Alan had a lifelong love of fishing and was very experienced in both boating and fishing. Our understanding is that there was a 'freak' wave that didn't allow time to activate normal safety procedures,' Ms Bottrill told The Advertiser.
Five people were onboard the ill-fated boat when it capsized at about 4pm on Monday, near Spilsby Island off Port Lincoln
Professor Danny Eckert (pictured) and his 12-year-old son were found with non-life threatening injuries having clung to a reef off Spilsby Island for about 10 hours
'We have no information about what actually happened.'
Mr Bottrill and Paul had been fishing together for more than a decade after meeting while working within SA Health.
One of the pair's former colleagues, Kylie Peterson, said the duo were 'extremely adventurous' and people you'd want to 'live vicariously through'.
'Mr Bottrill was the kind of person you'd sit down and listen to and go: ''Gosh, I would love to have that spirit of adventure'',' she said.
A large-scale rescue operation for the fishermen was launched after family members alerted police just after 8.30pm on Monday when they failed to return.
As well as a police helicopter, police water operations, local Sea Rescue vessels, a Challenger jet plane and P&O cruise ship the Pacific Explorer took part in the search.
The group were fishing near Spilsby Island off the coast of Port Lincoln, SA
Police will now prepare reports for the coroner.
South Australia Police Superintendent Paul Bahr said Prof Eckert and his son were treated for hypothermia after they were winched to safety.
'The boat itself has also been located and is on its way back to Port Lincoln,' Supt Bahr said.
'That will be offloaded later today and will be subject to further forensic examination and any examination the coroner may require.'
Danny Eckert is a professor of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University and the director of the school's world-leading Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health.
He was awarded the Pierre Robin Award by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine in 2019 for 'exceptional initiative and progress in the areas of education and academic research with original contributions to dental sleep medicine.'
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