Dual international Mat Rogers was "gripped by terror" as a Gold Coast boat cruise with former rugby league team-mates and friends almost ended in tragedy at the weekend.

Rogers was one of 10 people, including two children, on a 10-metre boat with former Titans team-mate Greg Bird, TV personality Matt Johns and international cyclist Robbie McEwen, when passengers began losing consciousness after inhaling undetectable carbon monoxide fumes.

He and McEwen are being hailed as heroes after rescuing a passenger who fell overboard during the drama.

"There was a time on the boat I felt terrified and powerless to do anything," the recently retired NRL star told AAP on Wednesday.

"I was pretty messed up for a time. I slipped off my chair and ended up on the ground but I don't think I lost complete consciousness.

"It was frightening.

"I was standing there thinking 'what's happening, what's happening' it was like something out of a movie.

"I remember I had my phone in my hand and I was looking at it wondering what I was going to do with it, I couldn't even make a phone call."

Despite his confused state, Rogers leapt into the water to help a man who'd fallen off the back of the boat after blacking out just off Sanctuary Cove.

He and McEwen, whose high altitude training and superior oxygen levels helped him cope with the situation better than other passengers, kept the unconscious passenger's head above water until help arrived.

"I saw the man walk around to the back of the boat and pass out and fall into the water," recalled the 34 year-old Rogers.

"I think I was probably the only one who saw him fall overboard. I was just coming to my senses and jumped in which was probably a silly thing to do.

"I ran through the boat and just dived in. Robbie (McEwen) tried to stop me because he knew I wasn't any good and then he dived in after me.

"I just grabbed the guy and laid back in the water and waited for the boat to come back around and get us."

The scary experience left Rogers more exhausted than in any of the 100 representative games he played during his career.

"I was that spent. I had no oxygen left in my system after I'd jumped in with Robbie to get this guy, I couldn't get back in the boat," he said.

"Luckily Birdie (Greg Bird) realised how serious it was and he just grabbed me and pulled me into the boat.

"I'm glad Birdie was there, he's a big fella and I was really struggling."

The drama started on the slow trip back from McLaren's Landing when passengers began to lose consciousness.

The plastic panels on the side of the boat, lowered to protect passengers from a storm, had created a vacuum that sucked the killer fumes back into the boat.

"We were breathing it in, totally oblivious to it, we couldn't smell it," said Rogers.

"It was nobody's fault, it was just one of those freak things."

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