Jay Robinson's boat had just capsized off Bribie Island and, in the space of five minutes, filled with water.
He was scared. But not for himself.
Instead, the skipper's panic-stricken thoughts were with his two mates clinging to the side of the upturned vessel without life jackets.
"I held onto them with my life," the 31-year-old said.
"I wasn't going to have anybody else's life on my hands."
Mr Robinson had set out with two friends, aged 34 and 14, on Saturday when their boat was struck by a wave from behind a sandbar.
When another rogue wave hit from the other side, the whole vessel flipped.
Their trip had initially been delayed because Mr Robinson had forgotten to take his Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB).
Going back for it turned out to be the decision that saved his and his friends' lives.
A rescue helicopter was able to locate and spot the stranded group waving as they clung to their capsized boat.
The trio were plucked to safety after the co-ordinated efforts of the water police, Polair and Bribie Island Volunteer Marine Rescue personnel.
While they were lucky to only suffer mild cases of hypothermia, Mr Robinson admits the close call has taken a psychological toll.
"Just knowing that two of my mates could've died being out there, that's taken a toll on me (sic) head," he said.
Teen Jamie Thomas recalled the moment the helicopter flew overhead and appeared to pass them by.
"They just flew straight over us (and) we didn't know if they were going to come back or not," he told ABC radio.
"They put the lights on us but they didn't see us."
The Water Police's Senior Constable Mark Gardiner said the incident was a reminder of the benefits of having an EPIRB.
Mr Robinson agreed: "It saved my life."
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