“I finally got closer, about a mile away and I saw these jagged shapes. It was the Brunswick bar and I was right in front of it. The outgoing tide was hitting me like a wall. Oh no, relax, don’t fight it! It started pushing me back out to sea. It was late arvo and I was fading. The bait fish were everywhere, murky water, birds diving and I’m trying not to think about getting eaten. I headed back up toward New Brighton and I took my time as I didn’t have the energy to get dumped by a big wave coming in.
I finally reached the beach. It’s a weird feeling when you finally touch sand after that long. All together it was 2 days. I got to the beach and there was a couple walking past. Here’s me half naked, just a singlet, bald and so sunburnt. I’m saying, Hey!…Hey! They just ignored me, obviously thinking I was a weirdo who’d partied all night. My bum was red raw as it was sticking out the whole time. I ripped off my singlet and wrapped it around my waist and sat on the beach. My legs were shredded, deep cuts all over my feet and when I touched them blood went everywhere. An older lady came along and I asked her for help and she listened.
The Ambulance and Police arrived and took me to Mullum Hospital. Search parties were sent out to look for Charlie and JJ but there was a stuff up with the search. They were looking in the wrong spot as they had drifted so far. By sunset they flew over but missed them.
Charlie had gone into shock and sadly he had died. JJ stayed with the red tub the whole time. JJ was on his own and he had started hallucinating. His parents who had passed came back to him and he could see them as clear as day asking him to come for a cup of tea. He was saying.… Go away, leave me alone. I’m not coming with you. The connection with the land and the Aboriginal people felt strong with Wollumbin / Mount Warning guiding me home. JJ lost his way for a while and I haven’t seen him since but I will call him.
It was never in my mind to give up. I never thought I could drown, maybe get eaten by sharks but never drown. I ended up with 7 stitches on one foot and 10 on the other. I’ve had a double hip replacement out of it. Before the accident I had one hip that was a bit dodgy. I could still work but after the accident it seemed that everything drained out of me. The joints just went.
I received two Bravery Awards. I took my parents down to Government House and it was pretty special mingling with everyone they brought together from Scientists to army people to survivors. It was amazing to be around all these people.
I’ve written a book which is like poetry / spoken word. I’ve always been a singer songwriter and I loved that. I was dyslexic at school and I still struggle but through music and poetry I could express myself. The week after it happened I sat down and started writing poems about it and eventually a book. The book is called Sea Rogue. It’s a short story so you don’t have to be a big reader to enjoy it. It has photos as well and I hope it helps people who are going through a crisis or a challenge.
I met my girlfriend Amelia 3 years later. When I was out there my last wish before I die was to have a family and I didn’t have one. I wanted to have a child. Amelia already had 3 kids and I moved in with them and experienced family life big time. It was crazy but all good. We had our daughter Gypsy 7 years ago. It’s important for me knowing I need to be here for her. I never had bad dreams but I’ve never been out on a trawler since. I’ve thought about it and I’d like to but I bought a tinny and I still go out where I can catch fish and see the whales.”
The book Sea Rogue is available at The Book Warehouse in Lismore.
I finally reached the beach. It’s a weird feeling when you finally touch sand after that long. All together it was 2 days. I got to the beach and there was a couple walking past. Here’s me half naked, just a singlet, bald and so sunburnt. I’m saying, Hey!…Hey! They just ignored me, obviously thinking I was a weirdo who’d partied all night. My bum was red raw as it was sticking out the whole time. I ripped off my singlet and wrapped it around my waist and sat on the beach. My legs were shredded, deep cuts all over my feet and when I touched them blood went everywhere. An older lady came along and I asked her for help and she listened.
The Ambulance and Police arrived and took me to Mullum Hospital. Search parties were sent out to look for Charlie and JJ but there was a stuff up with the search. They were looking in the wrong spot as they had drifted so far. By sunset they flew over but missed them.
Charlie had gone into shock and sadly he had died. JJ stayed with the red tub the whole time. JJ was on his own and he had started hallucinating. His parents who had passed came back to him and he could see them as clear as day asking him to come for a cup of tea. He was saying.… Go away, leave me alone. I’m not coming with you. The connection with the land and the Aboriginal people felt strong with Wollumbin / Mount Warning guiding me home. JJ lost his way for a while and I haven’t seen him since but I will call him.
It was never in my mind to give up. I never thought I could drown, maybe get eaten by sharks but never drown. I ended up with 7 stitches on one foot and 10 on the other. I’ve had a double hip replacement out of it. Before the accident I had one hip that was a bit dodgy. I could still work but after the accident it seemed that everything drained out of me. The joints just went.
I received two Bravery Awards. I took my parents down to Government House and it was pretty special mingling with everyone they brought together from Scientists to army people to survivors. It was amazing to be around all these people.
I’ve written a book which is like poetry / spoken word. I’ve always been a singer songwriter and I loved that. I was dyslexic at school and I still struggle but through music and poetry I could express myself. The week after it happened I sat down and started writing poems about it and eventually a book. The book is called Sea Rogue. It’s a short story so you don’t have to be a big reader to enjoy it. It has photos as well and I hope it helps people who are going through a crisis or a challenge.
I met my girlfriend Amelia 3 years later. When I was out there my last wish before I die was to have a family and I didn’t have one. I wanted to have a child. Amelia already had 3 kids and I moved in with them and experienced family life big time. It was crazy but all good. We had our daughter Gypsy 7 years ago. It’s important for me knowing I need to be here for her. I never had bad dreams but I’ve never been out on a trawler since. I’ve thought about it and I’d like to but I bought a tinny and I still go out where I can catch fish and see the whales.”
The book Sea Rogue is available at The Book Warehouse in Lismore.