Brian Mateer, Alan Freemantle recall survival after Fraser Island yacht wreck

Two yachties say they had just seconds spare to get out after waves ‘out of nowhere’ flipped their boat off the Fraser Coast and left them fighting for their lives in the ocean.

Ex-Navy men Brian Mateer and Alan “Scotty” Fitzgerald had a simple plan to keep safe on their way north of Brisbane: shelter at the calm waters of the Wide Bay bar.

But instead of spending a peaceful night at anchor off Fraser Island on the night of July 10, 2022, the duo were left fighting for their lives with dark rapidly approaching.

“All of a sudden, just before we were going across the bar, we got hit by a large, rogue wave which came out of nowhere, which was significantly higher than the waves we had been in all day,” Mr Mateer said in a statement released by RACQ LifeFlight.

Their yacht rolled and Mr Mateer became trapped under the transom door with his head underwater for about 90 seconds.

Mr Freemantle was stuck in the lavatory cubicle.

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The wreckage of Brian Mateer's yacht, which washed ashore at Fraser Island in July 2022, after he and Alan “Scotty” Fitzgerald had to be rescued off the coast of the island.

“We were upside down, I couldn‘t get out and then it flooded, but somehow I got a mouthful of air,” Mr Freemantle said.

The yacht eventually turned right side up, only now with a broken mast.

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However, it gave the pair a chance to escape.

They grabbed an emergency beacon, donned their life jackets and held on tight as they were pummelled by several more large waves.

Pilot Andrew Caton, Aircrew Officer Dan King, yacht owner Brian Mateer and Alan “Scotty” Freemantle reunite after the dramatic rescue of the two ex-Navy boaties from their vessel when it was struck by a rogue wave near Fraser Island.

The keel cracked, the duo were washed overboard and the yacht began to sink.

“We realised we were in a spot of bother,” Mr Freemantle said.

“She wasn‘t a sailing boat anymore, it was just a wreck.”

Mr Mateer said “15 to 20 seconds later it would have been too late, we wouldn‘t have got the EPIRB (beacon), we wouldn’t have got outside”.

As dusk settled the Mr Freemantle was saved by the crew on-board an RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Helicopter, pilot Andrew Caton and Aircrew Officer Dan King, who lowered a life raft down to the water.

Mr Mateer was found and rescued from the water shortly after owing to the strobe light he had on.

The helicopter then circled above Mr Freemantle and marking his location for the Tin Can Bay Volunteer Marine Rescue boat, who took him on-board.

“I thought we were getting ready to be there for the long haul, a couple of hours, and then it was only about 45 minutes later I heard the helicopter come over,” Mr Mateer said.

The wreckage washed ashore at the island a few days later.

LifeFlight pilot Andrew Caton said the pair did not underestimate the danger of their situation.

“Being ex-navy guys, they knew it was touch and go for them being in that situation and I think they knew the emergency situation they were in, so they‘ve been very thankful,” Mr Caton said.

Mr Mateer and Mr Freemantle, who this week gave their own heartfelt thanks to their LifeFlight rescuers, plan to show their support for the service at the upcoming black-tie LifeFlight Sunshine Coast Gala event on April 1, 2023, which helps raise money to keep the service running.

Originally published as Brian Mateer, Alan Freemantle recall survival after Fraser Island yacht wreck