A thirteen-year-old boy in Australia has been hailed as a hero after he swam roughly two and a half miles through dangerous waters to save his family from drifting further out into the ocean. The teenager and his relatives were enjoying a day on the water in Western Australia when sudden strong winds and heavy currents began to pull their inflatable kayak and paddleboards away from the coastline. Realizing the gravity of the situation as they were swept into the open sea, the boy made the daring decision to leave the group and seek help on land.
The incident occurred near Quindalup, a popular vacation spot located about 155 miles south of Perth. The family, consisting of 47-year-old Joanne Appelbee and her three children, Austin, 12-year-old Beau, and 8-year-old Grace, had set out for a morning of fun in Geographe Bay. However, the weather turned quickly, and the family found themselves unable to paddle against the strengthening offshore winds. After realizing they were in significant trouble, Joanne encouraged her eldest son, Austin, to attempt the long swim back to the beach.
Austin initially tried to use a kayak to reach the shore, but the small vessel quickly began to take on water and eventually capsized. Left with no other choice, the teenager began a grueling swim that would last nearly four hours. During his journey through the massive waves, he even made the difficult choice to remove his life jacket because it was slowing him down and making it harder to navigate the choppy conditions. You can watch video here.
“I was very puffed out but I couldn’t feel how tired I was,” Austin told reporters after the ordeal. He explained that he focused on positive thoughts and childhood memories to keep his mind off the exhaustion and the fear of the open water. “I think at one point I was thinking of Thomas the Tank Engine, trying to get the happiest things in my head and not the bad things that will distract me,” the boy added.
While Austin was swimming for his life, his mother and two younger siblings were drifting nearly 9 miles away from the shore. They were forced to cling to a single paddleboard as night began to fall and the water temperature dropped. Joanne later described the moment she sent her son away as one of the hardest decisions she ever had to make, fearing for his safety while also worrying about the children remaining with her.
Once Austin finally reached the beach, he collapsed from pure exhaustion but managed to regain enough strength to run over a mile to find a telephone. He successfully contacted emergency services around 6:00 PM, providing a calm and detailed report of where his family might be located. “I said I need helicopters, I need planes, I need boats, my family is out at sea,” Austin recalled of his emergency call.
James Bradley, a local police official, spoke highly of the boy’s actions during the rescue operation. He noted that the determination and courage shown by the thirteen-year-old ultimately saved the lives of his mother and siblings. “The actions of the thirteen-year-old boy cannot be praised highly enough,” Bradley stated while briefing the media on the successful recovery of the family members.
The rescue teams located the mother and the two younger children around 8:30 PM after they had spent nearly ten hours in the water. They were found shivering and exhausted but were otherwise in good health. The family was taken to a nearby health campus for medical evaluation, where they were eventually reunited with Austin, who was recovering from the physical toll of his long swim.
To understand the environment where this took place, one should know that Geographe Bay is a large, sheltered bay in the south-west of Western Australia. While it is generally known for its calm and clear waters, the area is subject to sudden changes in wind patterns that can create dangerous offshore currents. These currents, sometimes referred to as “rips” or “drifts,” can easily carry unpowered watercraft like kayaks or paddleboards far into the Indian Ocean if the paddlers are caught off guard.
Ocean safety experts often emphasize that even experienced swimmers can struggle in open water due to factors like fatigue, cold-water shock, and psychological stress. The endurance shown by a teenager in such conditions is considered statistically rare, as swimming over two miles in a pool is a significant feat, let alone in an unpredictable ocean environment. Most safety guidelines suggest staying with a floating vessel rather than attempting a swim, but in this specific case, the boy’s choice resulted in a successful rescue.
Western Australia is also known for its diverse marine life, and while the region is beautiful, it requires a high level of respect for the power of the sea. Local authorities frequently remind tourists and residents alike to check weather forecasts and carry communication devices, such as waterproof phone pouches or personal locator beacons, when heading out on the water. This lucky escape serves as a powerful reminder of how quickly a family vacation can turn into a survival situation.
The Appelbee family is now recovering at home and processing the intense experience they shared. While Austin does not consider himself a hero, his community and the local police believe his quick thinking and physical stamina were the only things that prevented a tragedy. Please feel free to share your own experiences with ocean safety or your thoughts on this incredible story in the comments.
