Australian teen hero swims miles through rough seas to save family

13-year-old Australian boy swims miles to save family from ocean ordeal

A 13-year-old Australian boy is being hailed as a hero after swimming for hours through rough ocean waters to save his family when they were swept out to sea off Western Australia’s coast.

Austin Appelbee was kayaking with his mother and two younger siblings near Quindalup on Friday when strong winds and choppy conditions pushed the family farther from shore. Visiting from Perth, the group had been using rented kayaks and paddleboards when the situation quickly turned dangerous.

As conditions worsened, Austin made the decision to swim for help. He abandoned his inflatable kayak when it began taking on water and removed his life jacket so it would not restrict his movement. He then set off alone on a grueling 2.5-mile swim that lasted nearly four hours, battling powerful waves and exhaustion before finally reaching shore.

“The waves were massive, and I didn’t have a life jacket on,” Austin recalled. “I just kept thinking, ‘Just keep swimming.’ When I finally hit the beach, I collapsed.”

His swim proved lifesaving. After Austin reached land and raised the alarm, a search helicopter was dispatched. Hours later, around 8:30pm, rescuers located his mother, Joanne Appelbee, 47, and his siblings, Beau, 12, and Grace, 8, clinging to a paddleboard while wearing life jackets. Police said the trio had drifted roughly nine miles from shore and spent up to 10 hours in the water.

By the time they were rescued, all three were suffering from cold exposure, and Beau had lost feeling in his legs due to the low temperatures. Despite the ordeal, none of the family members required hospitalization after being medically evaluated.

Police praised Austin’s bravery, crediting his determination with saving lives. “The actions of the 13-year-old boy cannot be praised highly enough,” Police Inspector James Bradley said. “His courage and persistence ultimately saved his mother and siblings.”

Joanne Appelbee said sending her eldest son to swim for help was the most difficult decision she has ever made. She described how the family tried to stay calm as daylight faded and conditions deteriorated.

“We kept positive, we were singing and joking, treating it like a game,” she said. “But once the sun started to go down, the waves got bigger, and it became very frightening.”

Reflecting on the outcome, she added, “I have three babies. All three made it. That’s all that matters.”