When a group of past Trafalgar High School friends gathered at Lake Eildon on June 8 last year for an annual fishing trip, a lifesaving rescue was far from their minds.

Two of the group were first on the scene of an ultra-light aircraft crash into the icy cold water of Lake Eildon.

Eighteen months later, local residents Brendan Witt, Tom Riddle and his seven-year-old daughter Anabell have been recognised with Victoria Police letters of acknowledgement for their rescue efforts.

The three were in Brendan’s boat fishing when they saw the aircraft crash into the lake.  With no hesitation, they reeled in their anchor and sped to the scene.

The pilot, a 40-year-old man, was able to free himself from the wreckage.  

His 23-year-old niece drowned with the submerged aircraft.  Her body was later recovered by emergency service rescuers.

Goulburn Valley superintendent Matthew Ryan recently attended at Warragul Police Station to present the letters of acknowledgement to Brendan, Tom and Anabell.

“With great difficulty they pulled out a fully clothed man and then assisted others to measure the exact location of the crash.  And then they gave up their day with what happens after someone loses their life,” Supt Ryan said.

The letters acknowledged their “exceptional service” on the fatal day.

The Victoria Police letter said they “immediately and selflessly abandoned” their fishing to go to the accident scene.

Despite the difficulty of the pilot’s wet clothing in pulling him out of the water, Supt Ryan said they provided him with “comfort and support.”

Brendan, who is captain of Drouin West CFA, said while the trauma of the accident unfolded quickly, he felt like everything was in slow motion.

He said his CFA training came into play enabling a calm response.

His GPS fish finder helped them to record the crash location for the rescue team who had to later search for the female passenger and the wreckage.

He said the wreckage was submerged about 12 metres when they reached the scene, so they never had a chance to rescue the passenger.

Tim said they saw the aircraft flying low before it crashed. By the time they arrived at the scene the pilot was in shock and terrified.  “It felt like it took us forever to get there,” he said.

While only seven-years-old, Anabell also played a role, assisting her father and Brendan with whatever instructions they gave her.

She said she wasn’t scared, she just knew she had to help.

The high school friends have been catching up annually for a fishing trip for a number of years.

COVID prevented the group getting together this year but Brendan and Tim are confident their rescue experience won’t deter them from joining the others next year.