Gerry has been a pilot on Fraser Island for thirty-five years and does over 40,000 beach landings a year. During that time, he’s survived plane crashes, rescued passengers, and saved people from beach dangers.

As someone who naturally thinks of others before himself in an emergency, Gerry says a switch gets flicked and the safety of other people comes first. He also admits his good nature and kindness could be used as a weakness in a game like Survivor and says his favourite previous player is Tarzan.

A free climber, free diver, spear fisher and Latin dancer, Gerry is used to the beach life so isn’t fazed by the Samoan elements that will be thrown at him. He says, “I’m as fit as I can be at my age, I’m a very social person but I’m also strategic. I’m going to be checking out all my opponents in the game, seeing which ones I can work and align with, who I can’t and as the game progresses, I’ll start playing the game bigger and bigger and bigger.

“The reason why I’m here to play is to prove to myself at my age I can do this. Number two, show other people around my age, don’t give it away. You can go and do new different things. This is all new to me as well.”