A twice-bankrupt Australian who styles himself as an 'admiral' managed to secure talks with Fiji's now-Prime Minister to seek backing for a "bogus" international rescue fleet, the ABC can reveal.

New South Wales man Peter Cowell, who poses in 'admiral' whites, claimed to have raised hundreds of millions in funding, but has never served in the navy and has left would-be supporters claiming they have lost thousands of dollars.

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Mr Cowell did, however, briefly serve in the Army Reserves — but only on weekends.

The 62-year-old, who did not respond to requests for comment, has been peddling a "mercy ship" scheme called IntSAR, or International Sea/Air Rescue, for the past quarter of a century.

IntSAR

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