‘Superhuman’ Boy, 13, Swims 4 Hours in Frigid Water then Runs Over a Mile to Rescue His Mother, Sister, and Brother Lost at Sea
In what many are calling a remarkable act of courage and faith, a 13-year-old Australian boy helped save his family after they were swept out to sea by strong winds and waves.
News18 reported that Austin Appelbee of Perth was on vacation with his mother Joanne, his 13-year-old brother Beau, and his 8-year-old sister Grace in Quindalup last Friday when the family was pulled into Geographe Bay.
They had been using paddleboards and a kayak when conditions suddenly worsened. After receiving instructions from his mother, Austin began making his way toward shore in the kayak. He paddled for four hours, at one point leaving his life jacket behind so he could move faster.
Exhausted, Austin collapsed when he finally reached land, but quickly pushed himself to run about two kilometers to find help, reaching a phone around 6:00 p.m. Rescue helicopters and boats were deployed, and at about 8:30 p.m., volunteers located and rescued his mother, brother, and sister.
A 13-year-old boy in Australia has been hailed for saving his family from drowning after they were swept out to sea.
Austin Appelbee was with his mother and two younger siblings when they got into difficulty.
He managed to swim two and a half miles to shore to raise the alarm… pic.twitter.com/wbwXZNvNDi
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) February 3, 2026
Authorities said Austin’s detailed description of his family and their situation helped crews locate them more quickly, and many have described his effort as extraordinary.
Austin later spoke about what kept him going during the ordeal, saying he felt guided by his faith. “I don’t think it was actually me [swimming],” he said. “It was God the whole time. I kept on praying. I said to God, ‘I’ll get baptised.’ The waves were massive, and I had no life jacket on. I just kept thinking, ‘just keep swimming.’”
In footage shared by Channel 4, Austin explained he tried to focus on positive thoughts to stay motivated. “I was trying to get the happiest things in my head, trying to make it through, not the bad things that would distract me,” he said.
ABC News reported that he also thought about his friends, his family, and even his favorite Thomas the Tank Engine character to keep his spirits up.
“He’s absolutely amazing,” his mother Joanne said. “Me and his dad are super proud.”
What could have been a tragedy instead became a story of determination, quick thinking, and hope, as the family was safely brought back to shore.
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