Remarkable story of survival after freak wave leaves father, daughter stranded in ocean off WA coast

"I was so excited about all the places she was going to be able to see and explore," Anderson tells 60 Minutes.

But their idyllic getaway turned into a terrifying life and death struggle when a rogue wave capsized Glenn's 11-metre yacht, the Impala 2, off the coast of Jurien Bay.

"The wave picked us up and there was just too much speed and power and it threw the boat sideways," he said.

In a matter of seconds, the force of the water pitched the father and daughter overboard.

"I look up and I just see the wave crashing over the boat," Ruby told Liam Bartlett.

"The next thing I know I was in the water and then I just felt dad grab me."

It was fortunate he did because Ruby's left leg had been broken.

"It was pretty painful, but I just tried to stay as calm as I could," she said.

At that point, Glenn and Ruby, who were about six kilometres from the shore, knew their chances of survival were slim.

But they refused to give up.

"I just did what any parent would do in that situation and try and keep your child alive," Glenn says.

As huge, threatening waves smashed into them, Ruby was thankful her dad never stopped asking her questions, trying to keep her alert while they desperately tried to tread water and swim towards the coast.

"He just kept asking me, 'Are you okay?' and 'we're going to make it,' and stuff like that," she says.

But despite his valiant efforts, Ruby was starting to suffer the effects of hypothermia.

"I think it was too cold for me to feel the cold," she said.

With the freezing ocean temperatures now seriously impacting Ruby, Glenn knew he had her to immediate safety.

"Her speech was starting to change, and her colour was starting to change," Anderson tells Bartlett.

"I could see she was going downhill."

Sunday on 60 Minutes, an incredible story of strength and extraordinary luck as a father and daughter fight for survival.