HE simply wanted a new fishing buddy. Now pensioner Ray Johnstone is about to tackle an adventure of a lifetime — a deep-sea fishing expedition.

The 75-year-old from Lewiston has been besieged with dozens of offers of fishing trips after he posted an ad on Gumtree looking for someone to share his passion.

Among those touched was Brisbane carpenter Mati Batsinilas, 22, who was moved to tears by Mr Johnstone’s plea and has offered him a two-day fishing trip off Stradbroke Island on a 10m boat.

media_camera Keen fisherman Mati Batsinilas, from Brisbane, plans to fly Ray Johnstone to Queensland for a deep-sea fishing adventure.

“That is the worst thing — I would not want to be in that position because we love fishing so much,” Mr Batsinilas said.

“I’m happy to pay for flights for him from SA to Brisbane, pick him up from the airport.

“This is just something where I feel like I can help and I do it with passion. I want him to have the best experience of his life.”

Mr Johnstone said he felt overwhelmed by the generosity. “It’s a true Aussie story, isn’t it?” he said.

“I expected about three or four replies from the ad.”

The Advertiser connected the two men yesterday and they are now arranging dates for Mr Johnstone and his grandson Ivan, 20, to fly to Brisbane on the all-expenses-paid trip.

Mr Batsinilas said Mr Johnstone was overwhelmed by the offer, which he happily accepted.

“I’ve got to get a bit of a schedule now with everyone I know with fishing,” he said. “I want to do it as soon as possible, in the next few weeks.”

Mr Johnstone has also been offered mateship and new fishing gear.

“I’ve had offers from a charter at Marion Bay offering to take me and my grandson out on a fishing trip,” he said.

“I just had a phone call from a fishing charter boat in Queensland, offering to fly me up there ... and there’s a group in Sydney trying to raise money and fly me to Sydney, put me up in accommodation, and get me on a fishing charter over there.”