Western Australian rescuers credit the survival of a mother and two children to the extraordinary endurance of a young boy who swam to shore for help.
A potential maritime tragedy was averted off the coast of Western Australia thanks to what emergency responders are calling the “superhuman” determination of a young boy named Austin Appelbee. The child successfully completed a grueling four-hour swim to raise the alarm after his family became stranded in open waters.
The incident began when the group—comprised of Austin, his mother Joanne, and siblings Beau (12) and Grace (8)—ventured out on a kayak and surfboards. Conditions rapidly deteriorated as winds picked up, causing the surfboards to capsize and the kayak to take on water. Losing control, the family was swept away from the coast by strong currents.
A Desperate Decision
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Austin made the decision to swim for help while his family clung to the remaining floating equipment. The physical challenge was immense; halfway through the ordeal, the boy made the calculated risk to remove his life jacket to reduce drag and swim faster, despite the exhaustion setting in.
I was scared but I thought I shouldn’t give up.
To maintain his composure in the isolation of the ocean, Austin told reporters he cycled through different swimming strokes and hummed theme songs from his favorite cartoons to keep his morale high.
The Rescue
Upon reaching land, Austin immediately contacted emergency services, triggering a major search and rescue operation involving police boats, helicopters, and aircraft. Using the coordinates and information provided by the boy, rescuers located the rest of the family drifting on a single surfboard.
Paul Bresland, a volunteer with the local sea rescue group, expressed disbelief at the boy’s physical feat. He described the swim, performed partly without buoyancy aids in choppy waters, as “superhuman.”
Following medical assessments, all family members were reported to be in good health. Police authorities emphasized that without Austin’s courage and clear thinking, the outcome would likely have been fatal.
SOURCES: Western Australia Police, Local Australian Media Reports, Volunteer Marine Rescue Services.
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