An Australian family is praising their oldest child for rescuing his mom and siblings during a boating trip that went horribly wrong. Austin Appelbee swam for hours and many miles to get help, and no one can believe he made it. The teen was on vacation with his family, and they were having a great time in the water. But then things went awry and they had to act quickly. Because he’s the oldest, his mom realized he’d have to make a major sacrifice and try to save everyone. Of course, it wasn’t an easy choice for her, but if she hadn’t asked him, there’s a chance they’d all be dead today.
Austin, his mom Joanne, younger brother Beau, and little sister Grace were on vacation at West Australian Quindalup Beach, which is south of their home in Perth, on January 30, 2026. They decided to take an hour and go into the water with their kayak and inflatable paddleboards, the Australian Broadcast Corporation reported. Although the water was initially calm, things got frantic quickly.
As the water got rougher, the kayak flipped and began taking on water. Soon, the four of them were getting carried further and further out to sea.
“One of the hardest decisions I ever had to make was to say to Austin, ‘Try to get to shore and get some help, this could get really serious really quickly,’” Joanne Appelbee said, adding that she “knew he was the strongest and he could do it.”
“I would have never went because I wouldn’t have left the kids at sea, so I had to send somebody,” she shared with the outlet.
Initially, Austin started out on the kayak, but it kept taking on water, so he had to let it go. He also ditched his life jacket because it was slowing him down.
“I was trying to get the happiest things in my head, and trying to make it through,” the boy said. “And at this time, you know, the waves are massive, and I have no life jacket on … I just kept thinking ‘just keep swimming, just keep swimming.’”
It took Austin about four hours to swim approximately 4 kilometers (about 2.5 miles) to shore. He then had to run another 2 kilometers to where they were staying. The boy got his mom’s phone and called for emergency services.
“I said, ‘I need helicopters, I need planes, I need boats, my family’s out at sea.’ I was very calm about it,” he recalled to the Australian Broadcast Corporation.
Soon, a search team including West Australia Water Police, a helicopter, and the Naturaliste Marine Rescue set out to find the others. Joanne, 12-year-old Beau and 8-year-old Grace were found around 8:30 p.m. 8.5 miles offshore.
“I had assumed Austin had made it a lot quicker than he had,” Joanne told the BBC. “As the day progressed, no vessels and nothing coming to save us. If he hasn’t made it, what have I done, have I made the wrong decision, and is anyone going to come and save my other two?”
Austin wasn’t sure if his family was still alive when he finally got to shore, but he knew he had to try to save them. After running to get the phone, the 13-year-old passed out after he called for help and was taken to the hospital. There, he called his dad crying because he wasn’t sure if his mom and siblings were safe.
A few minutes later, he got the call that they had been rescued. “It was a moment I will never forget,” he shared with the BBC. “I didn’t think I was a hero — I just did what I did.”
Naturaliste Marine Rescue commander Paul Bresland disagrees. He called Austin “superhuman,” according to the Australian Broadcast Corporation. “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,” he said.
Now, Austin is already home and back at school. He and his family came out of the ordeal with minor injuries, and he’s walking with braces because his legs are sore. After everything he’s gone through, he still maintains that he just did what he had to, although he did admit it was a “tough battle.”
