Appelbee family navigates mental scars after 10-hour ocean ordeal
It has been a whirlwind fortnight for hero Austin Appelbee, the 13-year-old who swam 4km to shore to save his family from a treacherous ocean ordeal near Dunsborough. Since his life-saving feat on January 30, Austin has met Rugby Sevens players, enjoyed a supercar experience, and received praise from West Coast Eagles star Harley Reid.
At a Channel Seven AFL Origin event, Reid handed Austin a signed jumper, calling his efforts inspiring. "All the boys are super proud of you and your efforts; it's incredible to do that," Reid said. Austin's bravery has also earned him invites to AFL Origin and Perth Wildcats games, and a GoFundMe campaign, started by a stranger in Tasmania, has raised over $40,000 for the children's futures.
Family struggles with trauma beneath the euphoria
Beneath the public adulation, the Appelbee family is working to return to normal life after their rescue from a darkening ocean 14km offshore. While Austin, Beau, 12, and Grace, eight, have quickly resumed swimming and are enjoying the attention, their mother Joanne faces daily triggers.
"I've had my moments. Sunsets aren't good, I definitely get triggered by the sunset," Ms Appelbee said. "Because I remember just being out there in the sea when the sun was going down and thinking, 'well, that's the end of us'. So that definitely is a massive trigger for me." She hides her distress from the children, often seeking support from friends during sunset hours.
Ms Appelbee expressed concerns about the psychological impact on her family as the attention fades. "They're lapping up all the attention at the moment, but that attention is going to go soon and we might crash and burn, so I do have concerns around that," she said. The children are receiving counselling, with plans to increase support if needed.
Details of the harrowing ordeal
On January 30, the family hired a kayak and two paddle boards for a final paddle during their holiday at Club Wyndham in Dunsborough. They entered the water around 11am in calm conditions, but a nightmare unfolded as conditions deteriorated rapidly, dragging them further out to sea.
After desperate efforts to paddle back, Joanne made the gut-wrenching decision to send Austin for help. He swam for four exhausting hours, covering 4km to reach shore. At about 6pm, Austin called triple-0, leading to the rescue of his mother and siblings at 8.40pm, 14km offshore.
In the triple-0 call, Austin calmly reported the situation, stating, "We got lost out there" and warning his family was stranded "kilometres out to sea." Despite suffering from hypothermia, he provided crucial details that aided the rescue. Acting Sergeant Andrew McDonnell praised Austin's actions as "nothing short of extraordinary."
Moving forward with resilience
Ms Appelbee has coped by mentally distancing herself from the trauma. "I put it into my head that it's just a story, I actually don't try to get too involved in it," she said. She hopes her children will focus on positive takeaways as they grow older and read about the event online.
The family has faced wild conspiracies linking them to public figures like Pauline Hanson and King Charles, which Ms Appelbee dismissed as laughable and untrue. "We're just a normal family," she emphasized, adding they are grateful to be alive and eager to thank the emergency crews in person.
Recently, the children chose to swim again, with Grace participating in swimming trials. Ms Appelbee supported their decision without pressure, delighted by their resilience. The family continues to receive well-wishes from around the world, expressing deep gratitude for their survival and the support they have received.
