Dean Yarnton woke up in the passenger seat of his ute, heard the hissing of a gas bottle, felt his socks wet with petrol, and called triple zero to report a "lunatic" was after him, a court has heard.
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During the call in the early hours of February 1, 2015, the emergency operator asked Mr Yarnton who he was talking about.
"My wife," Mr Yarnton said "Or ex f---ing wife".
Mr Yarnton's wife of 23 years, Sharon Yarnton, is on trial charged with attempting to cause an explosion or fire with the intent to murder him at Picnic Point, and his triple zero calls were played in the NSW District Court on Tuesday.
Monique Hayes, 25, and Fady Houda, 24, face the same charge, prosecutors alleging they were part of the plot.
All three have pleaded not guilty.
The court has been told there was animosity between the Yarntons, both prison guards, after Ms Yarnton found out her husband was having an affair with a colleague.
Mr Yarnton told court he and his wife were planning to divorce in early 2015, and were living together at Menai while their house was on the market.
On the night of January 31, 2015, Ms Yarnton, convinced him to have a final dinner "as the awesome foursome" with a pair of old friends.
After drinks, dinner, and playing the pokies at Merrylands bowling club, Ms Yarnton asked if he wanted a drink.
"She insisted on buying the last beer of the night, just for a final goodbye," Mr Yarnton said.
Mr Yarnton said he noticed something unusual about the drink.
"I took a sip of the beer and it tasted really funny, it was really powdery on the tip of my lip."
He said Ms Yarnton went to the bar to get another beer, but that also tasted strange and he began to feel drowsy.
"It was a feeling I haven't had before, where I was continually yawning."
Mr Yarnton said he fell asleep as Ms Yarnton drove home, and then woke up alone in the ute.
"[I remember] waking up in a dark place with a gas bottle blaring away in me ear, and no one to be seen.
"I jumped out of the car, my socks were automatically very wet and [there was] the strong smell of fuel."
He saw a car driving away, and immediately called his wife.
"I said 'What the f--- is going on here?' She said, 'I've shit myself, I'm in the bush cleaning myself up. I said 'Bullshit'."
Mr Yarnton said his wife emerged from the bush and he pushed her against the car, before calling police.
About two weeks after the incident Mr Yarnton found a notebook in the boot of Ms Yarnton's car with a list of things including "garbage bags", "old sheet", "get rope ready", "tie knots", "SMS to both" "before the day get the keys, take them to Mr Minit".
The trial continues before Judge Paul Lakatos.
