A "lonely" 75-year-old man who became the talk of Australia after putting out an ad saying he wanted a fishing buddy with is being flown to Queensland for an all-expenses-paid fishing trip.
Ray Johnstone's ad on classifieds site Gumtree was picked up by the public and Australian media, causing a flurry of offers for a fishing date and sparking a new hashtag #IllFishWithRay.
"My name is Ray Johnstone. Australian. I'm a widowed pensioner who is looking for a fishing mate. My previous mate is now deceased," the advert reads.
"I am a land-based fisherman. I have all the gear for all types of fish that is required for land-based fishing. What I want is a fishing mate in a similar position to myself who also wants someone to go fishing with.
"I am willing to share all costs, e.g. petrol, bait, and should you happen to own a boat, [I'm] willing to pay all ramp fees, but happy if you are also a land-based fisherman."
After being inundated with offers, it was revealed Mr Johnstone would be going on a fishing expedition with someone "reasonably local" - but that offer's now been blown out of the water by Brisbane brothers Peter and Mati Batsinilas.
After calling Mr Johnstone on his phone, which he says went "non-stop" from 7:30am to 11pm on Tuesday, the Batsinilas brothers asked if he'd like to go on an all-expenses-paid trip to their favourite fishing spot, Stradbroke Island, next week.
7 News say charters in South Australia and Sydney have also been organised for Mr Johnstone, and Boating Camping Fishing have said they'll hook him up with all the gear he needs for his expedition.
Mr Johnstone says the outpouring of support is "something [he'd] never expected".
Newshub.
