What we know about the Port Lincoln capsized boat passengers

The skipper and three generations of the Eckert family have now been identified as the five passengers on board a boat that capsized in Port Lincoln. Here’s what we know about them.

Three generations of the Eckert family and a skipper have been identified as the five passengers on board the boat that capsized in Port Lincoln this week. Here’s what we know about them. Picture: Supplied

Two Adelaide families have been torn apart after a fishing trip took a devastating turn on Monday, leaving the state mourning three men who lost their lives.

Three generations of the Eckert family — dad Paul, his two sons Danny and Tom, and Danny’s teenage son — were on-board the private vessel along with skipper Alan Leslie Bottrill who had taken the group out on the water Monday.

At around 4pm, a freak wave capsized the boat, sending all five men overboard.

Mr Bottrill, 71, tragically lost his life along with Paul Eckert, 73, and Tom Eckert, 40.

Danny Eckert and his son were found at around 2am on Tuesday clinging to a reef near Spilsby Island during a massive search, where the overturned vessel was retrieved.

Here’s what we know about each passenger:

Who is Alan Bottrill?

In a statement released on Wednesday, Mr Bottrill’s wife Pamela and children Rónán and Amélie paid tribute to the “adventurer who loved fishing”.

Mr Bottrill had twice battled cancer and “never” thought he would have been killed fishing, his wife told The Advertiser.

“Alan was 71 years old and still very much an adventurer who loved fishing, golfing and travelling with friends and family,” they said in the statement.

Port Lincoln boating victim Alan Bottrill. Picture: Supplied

“He leaves behind a wife, two children and two grandchildren who will miss him very much.”

The family extended a “heartfelt thanks” to those involved in the search efforts including police, who “did a wonderful job”, and the “community that has gathered around to support and care for our family”.

“Our most heartfelt thoughts are with the families of everybody affected by this tragedy,” the statement said.

Mr Bottrill is survived by his wife and two children. Picture: Supplied

He was a keen fisherman. Picture: Supplied

Who is Danny Eckert?

Danny Eckert was found by rescuers clinging to a reef in the middle of the ocean with his 12-year-old son.

Professor Eckert, head of Flinders University’s world-leading sleep clinic, recently made headlines for his work in the field, with an eight-week study he led made into a three-part SBS documentary, Sleep Revolution, with British TV presenter Dr Michael Mosley.

The Torrens Park dad is at the height of his career, named director of the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health (AISH) in 2019.

Professor Danny Eckert, director of the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health. Picture: Facebook

In a Facebook post announcing his appointment, AISH wrote that Professor Eckert had “dreamed of becoming a competitive cyclist, which led him to his first degree in sports science”.

Despite being offered a position at the South Australian Sports Institute, the 44-year-old keen cyclist followed the medical research path, applying at AISH as a research assistant.

“I decided to give this sleep science thing a try,” he said at the time of his career journey thus far.

“Although exercise and sleep are on either end of the human performance spectrum, both are periods in which the human body is most vulnerable and most interesting.”

After completing his PhD in sleep and respiratory physiology at Adelaide Uni, Professor Eckert spent six years at the Harvard Medical School in Boston, before obtaining a position as a principal research scientist at Neuroscience Research Australia in Sydney, where he worked for seven years.

On Thursday, March 28, Prof Eckert spoke for the first time since the accident – thanking emergency services and loved ones for their support in the “unimaginably difficult time”.

“I wish to express my immense gratitude to the emergency responders and everyone who helped with the search and rescue efforts,” Prof Eckert said in a statement.

“My heartfelt thanks go to the medical staff at the Port Lincoln and Women’s and Children’s Hospitals, who have provided us with outstanding care and support.

“I extend our sincerest appreciation to everyone including the whole Port Lincoln community who have offered their help, thoughts, and prayers.

“This kindness has been such a great comfort during this unimaginably difficult time.”

Who is his son?

Professor Eckert’s teenage son has not been named.

The 12-year-old high school student was found with his dad several hours after the boat capsized.

Danny’s 12-year-old son was airlifted to Adelaide after being rescued on the reef off the coast of Port Lincoln. Picture: NINE NEWS

He was airlifted from Port Lincoln to the RAH. Picture NINE NEWS

They were taken to Port Lincoln Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, telling police the boat was swamped by a wave around 4pm on Monday, throwing the five passengers into the sea.

Who is Paul Eckert?

The Wattle Park father and grandfather was 73.

His body was found along with his son Tom’s and Mr Bottrill’s between 6.30am and 2.15pm on Tuesday.

Paul and Tom Eckert were killed after their boat capsized. Picture: 7NEWS

All three men were taken back to Port Lincoln by the State Emergency Service and police are now preparing a report for the coroner.

Who is Tom Eckert?

Danny’s brother Tom, 40, also lived in Torrens Park, and has been remembered as “an amazing father” to his two sons.

His wife Tess Eckert released a sad statement on March 29, in which she thanked emergency services, volunteers and general public who helped in the search for the members of the Eckert family and Mr Bottrill.

“There are so many to thank and we don’t want to miss anyone but thank you. Without your help we could have lost so much more,” Tess said.

“Tom was an amazing husband, father, and best friend to so many.

“His pride and joy were his two boys aged 4 and 6, we can’t express in words how much he will be missed. He would have fought so hard to get back to us.

“We love him endlessly.

“We can’t describe how much the boys will miss their Grandpapa Paul who was a huge part in our lives and was also loved by so many.

“To the Bottrill family, who are close family friends, we send you all the love and support as you are going through the same grief as we are.

“Moving forward we ask for sensitivity and privacy at this time and chance to grieve in private.”