WA Teen's Incredible 4km Swim Saves Mother and Siblings from Ocean Peril
A 13-year-old Western Australian boy has been hailed a hero after undertaking a gruelling 4km swim to shore to save his mother and two younger siblings, who spent more than eight hours clinging to paddleboards in the open ocean.
Family Fun Day Turns into Survival Nightmare
Austin Applebee's family outing on the waters of Geographe Bay near Dunsborough turned disastrous when conditions deteriorated rapidly from 11am on Friday. Their kayak began taking on water and eventually sank, leaving mother Joanne Applebee, 12-year-old Beau, and eight-year-old Grace fighting for survival while drifting out to sea.
Facing increasingly dire circumstances, Ms Applebee made what she describes as "one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make" - asking her eldest child to attempt the perilous swim to shore for help.
The Gruelling Journey to Safety
For the next four hours, Austin battled rough seas, initially struggling with his waterlogged kayak before abandoning it to swim the remaining distance. The determined teenager rotated between survival backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle, demonstrating extraordinary physical endurance and mental resilience.
"I knew it would be a long way but the kayak kept taking on water," Austin recalled. "I was fighting rough seas, the kayak dumped me a million times... but I was just thinking I was going to make it."
To maintain his focus during the exhausting swim, Austin distracted himself with positive thoughts about his friends, Christian Youth group, and even childhood memories of Thomas the Tank Engine.
Race Against Time for Rescue
Upon finally reaching solid ground, Austin's legs collapsed from exhaustion, but he knew his mission wasn't complete. The teenager then ran approximately 2km to Club Wyndham Dunsborough to access his mother's phone and make the crucial triple-0 call that would initiate the rescue operation.
Naturaliste Volunteer Marine Rescue commander Paul Bresland acknowledged the challenging circumstances facing rescuers. "With the massive offshore wind and the time frame, we knew it was going to be out to sea," he explained, noting that survival after six hours in such conditions was uncommon.
Dramatic Rescue in Fading Light
As sunset approached, the situation grew increasingly desperate. Just minutes before the rescue team arrived, a large wave separated the family members in the water.
"I could only hear Grace screaming. I couldn't hear Beau, and that scared me," Ms Applebee recounted of the terrifying moment. "When the boat came and picked me up, I screamed that there was two kids in the water."
At 8.40pm, the RAC Rescue helicopter finally spotted the family approximately 14km offshore. All three were successfully retrieved from the water and transported to Busselton Health Campus for treatment.
Recovery and Recognition
The family sustained blisters, swelling, and muscle pain but avoided serious injuries. Austin attended school the following Monday in a wheelchair to share his incredible story, later transitioning to support crutches.
His bravery has earned him an invitation to meet his favourite AFL team, the West Coast Eagles. The Applebee family has expressed immense gratitude to all agencies involved in the multi-agency rescue mission, including:
- Water Police Coordination Centre in North Fremantle
- South West police
- Local marine rescue groups
- RAC Rescue helicopter
The family plans to personally meet and thank those responsible for their rescue, celebrating what marine rescuers describe as "a very good news story" against significant odds.
