Australian teen swims 4hrs to save his family
February 5 2025
In an extraordinary act of courage that has captured global attention, 13 year old Austin Appelbee swam for nearly four hours across rough, choppy ocean waters to raise the alarm after his mother and two younger siblings were swept far out to sea ultimately playing a crucial role in their rescue.
The incident unfolded on January 30 near Quindalup in Geographe Bay, about 200 kilometres south of Perth, where the Appelbee family on a holiday outing had taken out an inflatable kayak and paddleboards. Strong winds and deteriorating ocean conditions unexpectedly dragged their vessels out to sea, putting the family in immediate danger.
When the kayak began taking on water and progress back to shore proved impossible, Joanne Appelbee, 47, made the agonising decision to send her son ahead to get help a choice she later called “one of the hardest decisions” of her life.
Determined to save his family, Austin first tried to paddle back to land in the kayak, but he quickly realised it was slowing him down in rough surf. Stripping off his life jacket which he had worn during the initial part of the journey he began the arduous swim.
Confronted by powerful waves and cold ocean water, he battled fatigue and fear, later recalling how he pushed himself with the mantra “just keep swimming.”
After swimming approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) to shore an effort that took him some four hours Austin collapsed from exhaustion on the beach. Despite his physical state, he ran another 2 kilometres to reach his family’s accommodation, where he used his mother’s phone to call emergency services and report the situation.
Authorities launched a multi-agency search operation, employing helicopters and marine rescue crews. Thanks in large part to the detailed information Austin provided, rescuers located his mother Joanne, 12 year old brother Beau, and 8 year old sister Grace who had spent nearly ten harrowing hours in the water, clinging to paddleboards about 14 kilometres offshore. All three were found exhausted but alive and were brought safely to shore for medical evaluation.
Western Australia Police Inspector James Bradley lauded Austin’s bravery, saying the teen’s “determination and courage ultimately saved the lives of his mother and siblings.” Emergency responders and marine volunteers also described his feat as nothing short of “superhuman.”
Austin, modest about his achievement, downplayed the label of “hero,” saying he simply did what was necessary to bring help. However, rescuers, officials and media around the world have honoured his remarkable endurance and quick thinking a testament to resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.
The family has since returned home and is recovering, with Austin already back at school albeit on crutches, as his legs continue to heal from the ordeal.
