Uni professor Danny Eckert and his teenage son survivors of Port Lincoln boat tragedy, Tom and Paul Eckert dead

Paul Eckert and his son Tom have been identified among those killed in the family fishing boat tragedy, while Paul’s son and young grandchild miraculously survived by clinging to a reef.

One of the survivors of a horrific fishing boat tragedy that left three people dead has been identified as leading sleep specialist and professor Danny Eckert.

Professor Eckert, 44, was on a boat with four other people – his 12-year-old son, his brother Tom, father Paul and one other man – when their boat capsized about 4pm near Spilsby Island, off Port Lincoln on Monday, 7NEWS reported.

Professor Eckert and his teenage son, both from Torrens Park, were stranded in the water until about 2am, when PolAir located the vessel.

They were taken to Port Lincoln Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police were only alerted to the incident around 8.30pm on Monday, when concerns were raised when the family did not return from their fishing trip and a desperate search ensued.

A 73-year-old Wattle Park man, a 71-year-old Upper Sturt man and a 40-year-old Torrens Park man were located deceased in the water – later confirmed to be Mr Eckert’s father Paul his brother Tom and another unidentified man.

All three bodies were found between 6.30am and 2.15pm on Tuesday, and were taken back to Port Lincoln by the State Emergency Service and police are now preparing a report for the coroner.

Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, by the new director Professor Danny Eckert

Professor Danny Eckert and his 12-year-old son survived after a boat that was carrying five people, capsized near Port Lincoln. Picture: File/Artemis Media

The two survivors told police a freak wave capsized their boat at about 4pm on Monday, leaving them treading water for at least 12 hours before they were rescued.

On Tuesday, about 2am, PolAir found an upturned boat near Spilsby Island and rescued two people.

Police have said the capsized boat did not send out any radio distress calls or flares before the tragedy unfolded, but the two people rescued confirmed the boat had been hit by a wave at around 4pm.

Tom (left) and Paul (right) Eckert tragically died after their boat capsized near Port Lincoln on Monday afternoon. Picture: 7News

Prof Danny Eckert of the Flinders University Sleep Institute. Picture: File

The search effort, which resumed at first light on Tuesday, was co-ordinated by the Police Water Operations Unit, Port Lincoln Police, as well as local Sea Rescue.

Cruiseliner, the Pacific Explorer, with more than 2000 guests aboard was also diverted to help in the operation, according to FIVEAA.

Commercial fishing vessel Delamere recovered the capsized hull and is transporting it back to the coast.

The boat will be subject to forensic investigation.

The fishing boat that overturned off Port Lincoln. Picture: 7NEWS

Professor Eckert the head of Flinders University’s world-leading sleep clinic, Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health.

In his university biography, the award-winner and researcher – who specialises in sleep apnoea and respiratory pathogenesis – said he “leads a comprehensive … research program.”

In 2000, he graduated with a Bachelor in Applied Science, Human Movement/Exercise Physiology from the UniSA and then his PHD in Sleep/Respiratory Physiology from Adelaide University by 2006.

In 2019, Professor Eckert was awarded the Pierre Robin Award by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine for “exceptional initiative and progress in the areas of education and academic research with original contributions to dental sleep medicine.”