MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A remarkable act of bravery was witnessed off the coast of Western Australia when 13-year-old Austin Appelbee swam for approximately four hours in cold and turbulent waters to save his mother and two younger siblings. The family, from Perth, faced dire circumstances while enjoying a seaside adventure that turned hazardous when rough ocean conditions began to pull them out to sea.
On Friday morning, the family had set out utilizing kayaks and paddleboards. However, the escalating waves and wind soon overpowered their equipment, resulting in a dangerous situation. In a desperate bid to secure help, Austin abandoned his inflatable kayak, which was taking on too much water, and decided to swim approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) to shore to raise the alarm.
Austin recounted his harrowing experience, stating, "The waves are massive and I have no life jacket on. ... I just kept thinking 'just keep swimming, just keep swimming.'" He described how, after finally reaching the shore, he collapsed from exhaustion. Initially donning a life jacket, he later discarded it, finding it impeded his swimming speed. He focused on maintaining a positive attitude throughout his arduous swim.
At around noon, the family embarked on what was supposed to be a fun outing. However, it wasn’t until 6 p.m. that Austin managed to raise the alarm. By 8:30 p.m., a helicopter finally located his mother Joanne Appelbee, 47, his 12-year-old brother Beau, and his 8-year-old sister Grace, who had drifted approximately 14 kilometers (9 miles) from Quindalup and spent nearly 10 hours in the frigid waters.
Police Inspector James Bradley praised Austin's heroics, stating, "The actions of the 13-year-old boy cannot be praised highly enough — his determination and courage ultimately saved the lives of his mother and siblings." Meanwhile, Joanne Appelbee expressed her mixed emotions about sending her eldest child away for help. “One of the hardest decisions I ever had to make was to say to Austin: 'Try and get to shore and get some help. This could get really serious really quickly,'" she shared with the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Despite her initial confidence that Austin would reach the shore, Joanne admitted feeling doubt as darkness fell and help had yet to arrive. She reminisced about how the family managed to keep their spirits up by singing and joking until the conditions worsened, at which point the atmosphere turned somber due to the increasingly choppy waters and large waves.
When rescuers finally reached them, all three children were shivering, and Beau had even lost sensation in his legs due to the cold temperatures. Joanne reflected on the ordeal, saying, “I have three babies. All three made it. That was all that mattered.” This touching statement underscores the profound relief and gratitude the family felt following their tense, hours-long ordeal at sea.
