A 75-year-old grandfather has been offered free holidays around Australia after his online advert to find a new "fishing mate" went viral.
Ray Johnstone found casting lines off South Australia's Yorke Peninsula without company had turned his lifelong passion into a solitary affair.
His online ad on a popular Australian classifieds site, in which he jokingly described his condition as "used", was posted on 19 January.
"I'm a widowed pensioner who is looking for a fishing mate," Mr Johnstone wrote. "My previous mate is now deceased."
"I am willing to share all costs, e.g. petrol, bait and should you happen to own a boat [I am] willing to pay all ramp fees, but happy if you are also a land-based fisherman."
Days of attention
Propelled by a social media campaign using the hashtag #IllFishWithRay, Mr Johnstone's plea rapidly spread beyond his small town of Lewiston.
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