Will Mainprize’s family and friends plead with Aus Govt to ramp up search support: ‘He’s out there’

Friends and family of part-time Tasmanian resident Will Mainprize say there is a ‘real chance’ he and others aboard the sunken live export ship Gulf Livestock 1 can still be saved.

• Search resumption urged for Hobart resident Will Mainprize and others missing after ship capsized
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THERE is a “real chance” of survival for part-time Tasmanian resident Will Mainprize and 39 other missing Gulf Livestock 1 crewmen, say friends and family as they increase pressure on the Australian government to ramp up support for search and rescue efforts.

The live export ship carrying almost 6000 cattle capsized and sank in heavy seas en route from New Zealand to China during Typhoon Maysak on September 2.

Among the crew were two New Zealanders, 39 Filipinos and two Australians – Queensland vet Lukas Orda and stockman Mr Mainprize.

Two Filipino men were rescued in the days following the tragedy and a third was found dead.

Japan’s Coast Guard scaled back its search and rescue operation last week.

The ‘Save The Forty’ digital search and rescue Facebook group formed online on Sunday and has more than 1600 members raising awareness and crowdsourcing volunteers.

Facebook group ‘Urgent Efforts to Resume Search for Gulf Livestock 1 Survivors’ was created on Thursday to share updates and co-ordinate the campaign to see search efforts increased.

Join the world largest volunteer search and rescue group! SAVE THE FORTY! Please use these hashtags: #SAVETHEFORTY #GL1...

Posted by Save The Forty on Saturday, 12 September 2020

Members were urged to contact government and opposition MPs and key actions were published on Monday.

They included: spreading the word among Japanese fishing communities and sailors who might not have much knowledge of the incident, but could be “one of our best shots”; engaging tech agencies with satellite search capabilities; and contacting the ship’s owners to fund rescue efforts and provide a statement about their contribution.

Hobart’s Felix Beck-Swindale, a close friend and colleague of 27-year-old Mr Mainprize, said crew members had PFDs and were reportedly readying to board life rafts before contact was lost.

One lifeboat and three life rafts are not yet accounted for.

“We can sit on our hands and accept the worst or we can be actively engaging every possible avenue to find these 40 men,” he said.

Mr Beck-Swindale – a marine scientists and adventure guide – worked with Mr Mainprize as a Cradle Mountain canyoning guide for several seasons and said he trusted him with his life.

Felix Beck-Swindale form Hobart has not given up on his good friend Will Mainprize who was lost at sea when the live export ship he was on capsized in a typhoon in the East China Sea in September 2020. Will Mainprize, back right, and Felix Beck-Swindale, front right, celebrate after completing a rafting trip on the Franklin River. Picture: SUPPLIED

“I’ve got absolutely no doubt he’s out there doing everything in his power to give himself and others the best chance of survival. It’s not over until we’ve done everything we can.

“It’s our turn to show our mates the compassion they deserve. But, time is absolutely critical.”

Mr Beck-Swindale said the campaigns were not just cries for help, they were calls for the Australian government to take the actions that “needs to be taken today”.

He pointed to a case in 2005 where an Australian and New Zealand man survived 11 days in stormy seas in an inflatable raft without food or water after their yacht capsized near Vietnam.

Mr Beck-Swindale said Mr Mainprize – an adventure guide and whitewater rescue technician with a Certificate IV in Outdoor Recreation from TasTafe – has the instincts, skill set and fortitude to survive.

Felix Beck-Swindale form Hobart has not given up on his good friend Will Mainprize who was lost at sea when the live export ship he was on capsized in a typhoon in the East China Sea in September 2020. From left, Conor Duggan, Felix Beck-Swindale, Will Mainprize and Johnny Owen, on Frenchman's Cap on Tasmania's West Coast. Picture: PATRICK GEE

“He’s trekked through Mongolia by himself for a month.

“He just doesn’t give up. He’s never backed down from a situation where he has had to make a decision or be influential.”

A state government spokeswoman said the Department of Premier and Cabinet had spoken with members of Mr Mainprize’s family on Monday and will “continue to liaise with DFAT and Home affairs”.

The federal government last week said it was encouraging Japan’s ongoing air and sea efforts and continuing to offer “any supporting capability needed”.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and trade was contacted for this article, but had not responded at time of publication.