Lisa Thompson‘s memoir reveals horror shipwreck on Fantome Island

On a fishing date gone horribly wrong, a woman swam for hours in shark-infested waters and was shipwrecked off Queensland for three days. She reveals her amazing story of survival.

Lisa Thompson was shipwrecked on Fantome Island in 1989. She has written a book about the experience.

A woman shipwrecked for three days on a former leper colony has written a book about the experience.

New Zealand-born Lisa Thompson was just 20 when a fishing date on August 14, 1989 with Robert Brown went horribly wrong.

Now her memoir about being marooned on Fantome Island, Lost in Plain Sight, is being released in January 2023.

“We were going along and there was this almighty crunching (and) the boat started taking on water”, Ms Thompson said.

Lisa Thompson was 20 when she and her date were shipwrecked on Fantome Island

“A rogue wave swamped (us) and the whole back end of the back end of the boat disappeared.

“It was absolutely terrifying.”

She was wearing the only lifejacket, which got caught on the sinking boat until her date freed her.

Ms Thompson grew up on boats in Marlborough Sounds and said the vessel was “patched up on a dime”.

The couple swam for three hours through shark and stinger-infested waters towards Fantome, just kilometres from Palm Island.

Lisa Thompson with her father in New Zealand.

“We found a bit of higher ground and slept, (but) at night it was terrible because you could see the lights and cars,” Ms Thompson said.

“We were right there and nobody could find us.

“It was just unreal.

“We didn’t talk a lot because I think we were both so traumatised.”

Surviving on coconuts, oysters and whatever they could find, Ms Thompson said she hates oysters to this day.

Without shelter, Ms Thompson and Mr Brown walked through the island’s former leper colony.

An aerial image of Fantome Island in Far North Queensland. Picture Lachie Millard

A rescue plane and boat surveyed the island once authorities realised they were missing, but didn’t see the couple waving.

Severe sunburns and dehydration gave Ms Thompson hallucinations, confusing the sight of a fishing trawler coming to the rescue.

“I was crying with relief and I couldn’t believe they’d found us,” she said.

Living on Magnetic Island at the time, when she laughingly recalled when she returned a friend told her “God only looks after fools”.

Despite trying for years to find her former boyfriend while writing the book, Ms Thompson said she lost contact with Mr Brown after the traumatic experience.

Lisa Thompson’s memoir Lost in Plain Sight has been published.

Despite her horrifying experience, Ms Thompson said she does not have a fear of the ocean.

“I have a lot of respect for it though,” she said.

“Writing the book has been really good for me (dealing) with a lot of trauma.

“I still live by the sea (in) Shoal Point.

“It’s good for the soul.”

Lost in Plain Sight is available for pre-order now.

Originally published as Lisa Thompson‘s memoir reveals horror shipwreck on Fantome Island