Professor Danny Eckert breaks his silence after he clung to a Spilsby Island reef with his young son for 12 hours during Port Lincoln fishing trip tragedy that claimed the life of his father and brother

A university professor who survived with his young son by clinging to a reef for hours after their fishing boat capsized, killing three people on board, has broken his silence.

Professor Danny Eckert, 44, and his son, 12, were on board the ship when it was hit by a strange 6.2 meter wave near Spilsby Island, about 40km off the coast of Port Lincoln in South, at around 4pm on Monday. -Australia.

The others on board – his father Paul Eckert, 73, brother Tom Eckert, 40, and family friend Alan Bottrill, 71 – sadly died.

Family members raised the alarm around 8:30 PM after the boat failed to return to Port Lincoln, leading to a search and rescue operation in which the overturned boat was found and at 2:00 AM Prof. Eckert and his son were brought to safety.

“I would like to express my enormous gratitude to the first responders and everyone who assisted with the search and rescue efforts,” Prof. Eckert said in a statement to police. Adelaide Advertiser.

‘My sincere thanks go to the medical staff at Port)Lincoln and Women and Children’s Hospital who provided us with excellent care and support.

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

Professor Eckert added that it had been an ‘incredibly difficult time’ but took comfort in the kindness shown by friends and local residents.

Professor Eckert’s neighbor in Torrens Park, Adelaide, Noela Krahn, 74, said she believed he might have held his son as the pair clung to the reef in the icy water overnight.

“He loved that boy like you wouldn’t believe… (he) would have made sure the boy was safe,” she said.

Tess Eckert, Tom’s wife, also spoke to the media and shared her gratitude to those who helped in the search.

The couple share two young boys, ages four and six.

“Tom was a wonderful husband, father and best friend to many,” she said.

She added that their boys would also miss their “grandpa” and shared her support for the Botterill family, who she described as close friends.

Bottrill’s wife Pamela and their children Rónán and Amélie previously said in a statement that the 71-year-old had battled cancer twice.

“Alan was 71 years old and still a true adventurer who enjoyed fishing, golfing and traveling with friends and family,” the statement said.

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

Mrs Bottrill said her husband was an experienced fisherman who “never” thought he would be killed doing the hobby he loves.

She said the group took off in “calm seas” on the day of the accident.

“Alan had a lifelong love of fishing and had extensive experience in boating and fishing. “We understand there was a ‘freak’ wave that did not allow time for normal safety procedures to be activated,” Ms Bottrill previously said. The advertiser.

“We have no information about what actually happened.”

Mr Bottrill and Paul had been fishing together for more than a decade after meeting while working at SA Health.

One of the couple’s former colleagues, Kylie Peterson, said the duo were “extremely adventurous” and people you would want to “live vicariously through.”

“Mr. Bottrill was the kind of person you sat down and listened to and said, ‘Gosh, I would love to have that adventurous spirit,'” she said.

A massive rescue operation for the fishermen was launched after relatives alerted police just after 8.30pm on Monday when they did not return.

In addition to a police helicopter, police water operations, local rescue vessels, a Challenger jet and P&O cruise ship, the Pacific Explorer took part in the search.

Police will now prepare reports for the coroner.

South Australia Police Commissioner Paul Bahr said Prof Eckert and his son were treated for hypothermia after being brought to safety.

“The boat itself has also been located and is on its way back to Port Lincoln,” Supt Bahr said.

‘That will be released later today and will be subject to further forensic examination and any investigation the coroner may require.’

Danny Eckert is professor of medicine and public health at Flinders University and director of the school’s world-renowned Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health.

In 2019, he received the Pierre Robin Award from the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine for “exceptional initiative and advancement in education and academic research with original contributions to dental sleep medicine.”