STUCK IN THE GULF

By Eldon De Croos 4 Min Read

GOING TO THE 4WD AND ADVENTURE SHOW IN SYDNEY,
ADELAIDE OR PERTH? YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASK TV ADVENTURER JASE ANDREWS ABOUT THIS LITTLE INCIDENT

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Deep in the heart of Gulf Country in June 2013, driving on a saltpan at the upturn of a king tide, Jase Andrews got bogged while making his popular TV series All 4 Adventure.

The chaos that ensues as he and his wingman, Simon Anderson, frantically try to beat the incoming tide sees multiple winchings, boggings and a vehicle rollover in a rollercoaster ride that will have you cheering for these two plucky lads from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

(Now is a good time to watch the video if you haven’t already).

“I wasn’t too concerned when I first got stuck. I had no idea the tide was gonna come in so fast,” Jase said, adding that tides in the Gulf are unpredictable, especially as the coast is a few kilometres away.

“Nine to 10 months of the year you’re not going to see water on those salt pans … It’s not as simple as looking at some guide books and saying ‘let’s not go there’.”

Jason stands by his decision to make the crossing, even though it wasn’t necessary.

“That’s just the name of the game … you take that risk.”

Asked whether the stress of being bogged compromised their judgment during the recovery, he concedes that there were things that could have done differently such as performing snatches on harder ground or Simon not snatching at an angle.

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However, he adds that their preparedness for any situation meant that even when Simon’s vehicle rolled over or when both vehicles were bogged they were able to deal with the situation.

“I could think on my feet and get the vehicle back upright,” Jase said.

He added that preparation and good recovery gear were key to being calm under pressure.

“People ask me, ‘Why do you carry so much gear Jase?’. Well, for that one particular time we can get ourselves out.”

He also said the second vehicle enables them to push the limits.

“If you are by yourself I’d stay away from salt pans,” Jase laughed.

Given his experience, one could argue that salt pans should be avoided even with a second vehicle, yet that doesn’t make for very exciting television.

And exciting television is exactly why All 4 Adventure is surging in popularity as it begins
its sixth series in October 2014.

Jase admits the journey to success has been a double-difflocked puckerfest that began with leaving his job as a construction supervisor and
re-mortgaging his house around eight years ago.

“I just wanted to go to those places that blow your mind. Remote locations where the fishing is insane, there is nobody there, the wildlife doesn’t see people, the fish don’t see lures … and then I wanted to show people that I had been there.

“I was flat broke for three years. My wife and I lived off our mortgage and I was down to my last payment before I got a contract with the network.”

This risk-taking approach to life permeates through the show as he and his best mate push their fourbies, boats and ATVs to the limit in Australia’s wilderness, with often boggle-eyed consequences.

All 4 Adventure series six begins October 26
at midday on Channel 10.

Words: Tom Haynes


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