An elderly West Australian fisherman who spent hours with his leg wedged in rocks on the state's rugged south coast, "screaming for help", has recalled saying his final goodbyes before an unlikely saviour appeared.
Calista resident Walter Bazolich, 78, was fishing on rocks near Muttonbird Beach, about 20 kilometres west of Albany, last week when he found himself in a nightmarish predicament.
"A wave came onto the rocks behind me. I put my rod down and looked around on how to get out safely," Mr Bazolich said.
"Next thing I know I was banging my knees, head and shoulders. Before I realised what was happening, I was jammed in the crevice."
The coast has recorded several rock fishing deaths in recent years, with the Southern Ocean swell and prized fishing locations inviting peril.
In what might be considered a fortunate twist for Mr Bazolich, the holidaymaker found his right foot pinned between two large boulders, which kept him from falling onto rocks where waves were breaking about 2 metres below.
"My left side was hanging out in open air, but my right foot was stuck in a gap between two boulders," he said.
"My entire weight was resting on my right leg. I was able to lift my right hand and find a small ledge and support myself.
"That's where I was for about four hours."
'I saw … his fishing rod just sticking out'
Mr Bazolich was able to share his story due to the actions of Albany's Jeff Fitzpatrick, who stumbled upon the dramatic scene while four-wheel-driving.
Mr Bazolich said he had been quietly saying goodbye to his family as exposure took its toll, he started to shiver and his legs lost feeling.
"No matter how hard I tried I could not lift myself up. I could get up a couple of inches but couldn't go any further as my foot was stuck," he said.
He said that as he grew tired, he could only shout every few minutes to try and attract help.
Mr Bazolich's wife Mary, who has limited movement, had activated an EPIRB when her husband did not return for lunch.
Coincidentally, a few minutes later Mr Fitzpatrick arrived at the area in his four-wheel drive.
'I was freaking out'
Mr Fitzpatrick said Mary stopped him and pointed to where Mr Bazolich had been fishing on the rocks.
"I was looking around and couldn't see anything. I was worried when I couldn't see him, it's quite a rough spot," he said.
"I saw the point of his fishing rod just sticking out. I walked down there, thinking the worst. The rocks were wet."
Then Mr Fitzpatrick heard Mr Bazolich's cry for help.
He said it was a challenge for him to reach the fisher.
"I was freaking out a bit at the time. Instincts just took over and got him out," he said.
"It took about 10 minutes to get him out, trying different angles. I got under his arm, lifted him out. His legs were dead and it was really just his one arm holding him there."
Mr Bazolich said he could not thank his rescuer or emergency services enough.
"I yelled, 'help, somebody, help'. Someone said, 'I'm here, mate', and I thought I was hearing things," Mr Bazolich said.
"I never stopped thanking my spiritual friends. I believe in guardian angels.
"When he pulled me out, it was dangerous, I was so relieved I was panting and just kept saying thank you, thank you."
Mr Bazolich was taken to Albany Health Campus for observations but avoided major injury.
