Everything we know about the fishing boat which capsized off Spilsby Island in South Australia
A family fishing trip has ended in devastation with three people dead, leaving the nation in shock. Here’s how the Port Lincoln tragedy unfolded.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
What started as a family day out on a sunny autumn day in the picturesque surrounds of Port Lincoln has ended in devastation in the murky depths of the ocean.
In a horror tragedy that has rocked the nation, three men lost their lives when a freak wave capsized their fishing boat, sending the five passengers flying overboard.
The only two survivors, a young father and son, who were found clinging to a reef in the middle of the ocean early Tuesday morning have since recalled the terrifying moment their boat flipped at 4pm on Monday afternoon during the boys fishing trip.
Police confirmed the fishing boat overturned just off Spilsby Island, off the coast of Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula.
A large-scale search and rescue discovered 44-year-old professor Danny Eckert his 12-year-old son from Torrens Park.
It was later confirmed Professor Eckert’s father Paul, 73 had been found dead, his brother Tom, 40, and the boat’s captain Alan Bottrill, 71, who was a close friend of Paul’s.
This is everything The Advertiser knows about the tragedy.
When did the fishing boat leave Port Lincoln?
On Monday, just after 8.30pm, police were alerted to the disappearance of five people who set off in a fishing vessel from Port Lincoln earlier that day.
On Tuesday, about 2am, PolAir found an upturned boat near Spilsby Island and rescued two people.
Who are the survivors?
One of the survivors 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 Alan Bottrill.
Professor Eckert and his son, both from Torrens Park, were located on a reef about 2am and winched to safety.
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.
The body of a third person was found in the water at about 6.30am, while the fourth person was located just after 9am in the vicinity of the vessel. The fifth person’s body was found at about 2.15pm.
It was later confirmed Professor Eckert’s father Paul, of Wattle Park and brother Tom, of Torrens Park, were among those who lost their lives. Experienced fisherman Alan Bottrill was named as the third man on Wednesday.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Upper Sturt grandfather Mr Bottrill’s wife Pamela and children Rónán and Amélie said he had twice battled cancer and “never” thought he would have been killed doing the thing he loved.
“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.
“He leaves behind a wife, two children and two grandchildren who will miss him very much.”
Mrs Bottrill revealed to The Advertiser that her husband and a “number of different friends and family” had been holidaying at Coffin Bay “enjoying fishing and other activities together” in the area.
“On the day of the accident a group of friends had gone fishing in calm seas off Port Lincoln … just another day with family and friends enjoying time together,” she said.
“It is unimaginable that this tragedy could have occurred.”
Where is Spilsby Island?
The privately owned island is one of the largest in the Sir Joseph Banks Group in the Spencer Gulf, about 44.9km frrom Port Lincoln.
It has no permanent residents and is grazed by sheep.
BREAKING: There is a family tragedy unfolding near Port Lincoln. One person is dead and two others are missing after their fishing boat was hit by a freak wave. Two other family members have been rescued. @HannahFoord7#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/iea70dTK28
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) March 26, 2024
Where is the Port Lincoln fishing boat now?
Commercial fishing vessel Delamere recovered the capsized hull and transported it back to the coast.
The boat will be subject to forensic investigation.
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.
Swells around Spilsby Island were about 15 knots, and a low tide of 0.3m in the area when the alarm was raised about 8.30pm Monday.
Light north-westerly winds of about 11km/h were recorded when two people were rescued about 2am.
The owner of Port Lincoln Fishing Charters – who asked not to be named – told The Advertiser he spent most of Monday fishing near Spilsby Island.
“I was fishing around Spilsby Island between 8am to 4pm yesterday (Monday),” he said.
“I saw about five other boats around me, one was a larger vessel and the other four were trailer boats about 20 feet long.
“But the water conditions yesterday were absolutely stunning, it was an easy journey between Port Lincoln and Spilsby.”
Port Lincoln-based fisherman Jarrod Day said he had concerns over the “large swells” in the water.
“These reefs are nothing to be messed with,” he told FIVEAA
“At the moment we’ve got a large swell going on and it picked up yesterday (Monday) morning.
“Look, hopefully everyone is safe and sound but they might have come down and got stuck on one of those reefs down there – Buffalo Reef is a rock in the water and can break.”
Who led the search?
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.
Numerous messages across marine radio channels alerted vessels in the area who are taking part in the search.
More Coverage
Originally published as Everything we know about the fishing boat which capsized off Spilsby Island in South Australia
Home destroyed in devastating blaze
A huge fire has torn through a Meningie property, leaving an eye-watering damage bill and a home destroyed.
SA’s dirtiest suburbs and the $3m graffiti price tag
Ratepayers have forked out millions to clean up the mess left behind by vandals in just two years. Search the state’s graffiti hotspots and see where you area ranks.