Port Lincoln SES unit manager Ben Stobart sheds light on search and rescue after fishing trip tragedy

One of the first volunteers who searched for those involved in the Port Lincoln boating tragedy has spoken about the large-scale rescue operation.

One of the first volunteers in the water to search for those caught up in a boating tragedy off Port Lincoln has praised the “massive team effort” that brought a father and son home, detailing the rescue for the first time.

Alan Bottrill, Paul Eckert and Tom Eckert were killed after a freak wave capsized the fishing boat they were aboard on Monday afternoon, while Professor Danny Eckert and his 12-year-old son survived the incident.

The group were fishing near Spilsby Island, about 45km offshore from Port Lincoln when it was struck.

Alarm bells were raised when they did not return to shore on Monday evening, with authorities commencing a search shortly after.

Prof Eckert and his son were found clinging to a reef almost 10 hours after the boat capsized.

Port Lincoln SES unit manager Ben Stobart said his crew was on standby from 11pm Monday night after SA Police had become aware the Eckerts and Mr Bottrill had not returned to shore.

Less than four hours, the SES’s Yakata, an 8m catamaran with four members and an SA Ambulance paramedic left Port Lincoln and headed for Mr Bottrill and the Eckerts’ last known location, which it reached an hour later.

“Fortunately the conditions were favourable so we were able to make good progress,” Mr Stobart said.

“We located the vessel, we established there was nobody on board and then we were tasked to head towards Buffalo Reef.”

The boat the Eckerts and captain Alan Bottrill were aboard capsized near Spilsby Island.

Mr Stobart and his crew came within a couple of kilometres of Prof Eckert and his son before being met with large swells.

“The swell was too big and it was too dangerous and I didn’t want to put my crew at risk so we stood by while the helicopter did their job,” Mr Stobart said.

Once the father and son were found alive and well, the search resumed for their missing family members and Mr Bottrill.

“Obviously all of us think that’s a great outcome and then we turn our attention to those that are still unaccounted for,” Mr Stobart said.

Professor Danny Eckert and his 12-year-old son were the only survivors of the incident. Picture: Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health

Mr Stobart’s crew train once a year with SA Police’s Water Operation Unit to prepare for large-scale searches, which can last days.

“With other searches we do expect them to go on for days if we don’t find someone and we’re prepared to do that and we’re prepared to get time off work if we have to,” he said.

Mr Stobart praised his crews’ efforts during the search.

“I can’t speak highly enough (of them),” he said.

“These are people who give up their time, who have left their families late at night to go out to sea and look and search and search and they do it very professionally.”

“The motivation in general for the SES is to help people and sometimes the outcomes aren’t so good but often they are good and I think people really appreciate that there are others out there looking out for them.”

Mr Stobart also praised the work of SA Police, SA Ambulance Service and the fishing industry.

“It’s not just one group or one team,” he said.

“It’s just a massive team effort.”