A 13-year-old boy battled “massive” waves for hours in a heart-stopping solo swim to save his family after they were swept out to sea off Western Australia. Austin Appelbee fought exhaustion and fear to reach shore and raise the alarm. His courage sparked a dramatic rescue that saved his mum and two younger siblings.

The family had been out on an inflatable kayak and paddleboards when strong winds suddenly picked up on Friday. The change in conditions pushed them farther and farther from safety. What began as a coastal outing quickly turned into a terrifying fight for survival.

With no way to call for help, the situation became desperate. Joanne Appelbee, 47, made a gut-wrenching call. She asked her eldest son to attempt a roughly 4km (2.5-mile) swim to shore.

Austin told local broadcaster ABC he was “very puffed out” but kept going anyway. He said he barely felt how tired he was because his mind was racing. He tried to block out fear by thinking of happy things.

At one point, he even thought about Thomas the Tank Engine to stay positive. The waves were huge. He had no life jacket on while swimming.

He first tried to make for shore on an inflatable kayak. But it began taking on water, forcing him to abandon it. He also took off his life jacket because it slowed him down in the water.

Back at sea, the rest of the family clung on with only life jackets and a paddleboard. They had no means of communication. They drifted helplessly, not knowing if help was coming.

The group included Austin’s 12-year-old brother Beau and his eight-year-old sister Grace. They were from Perth, the state capital. The hours dragged on as daylight faded.

Joanne said they tried to stay upbeat at first. They sang and joked to keep spirits high. For a while, they treated it like a game.

But as the sun went down, conditions worsened. The water grew choppier. The waves became bigger and more frightening.

“Ten hours we were out there,” Joanne said. She described about eight and a half of those hours as the scariest they had ever experienced. Fear set in as darkness closed around them.

Austin’s ordeal did not end when he reached land. He said he finally hit the bottom near the beach and collapsed. Then, despite exhaustion, he forced himself to sprint about two kilometres to find a phone.

That dash was the final push to get help. His call set rescue efforts in motion. Time was critical.

A search helicopter later located Joanne and the two younger children. They were found at 8.30pm (12.30pm UK time), police said. They were wearing life jackets and clinging to a paddleboard.

By then, they had drifted 14km (9 miles) from Quindalup. That was where they had originally entered the water. The distance underlined just how far they had been carried.

Police Inspector James Bradley praised the teenager’s actions. He said Austin’s determination and courage saved the lives of his mother and siblings. The praise was clear and unequivocal.

Joanne said she was “super proud” of her son. She described sending him off to swim as one of the hardest decisions she had ever made. But she knew it had to be done.

She said the most important thing was that all three children survived. “We made it, we’re alive,” she said. That, she added, was all that mattered.

Austin survived his epic effort relatively unscathed. He only needed a crutch to help support his sore legs. After hours in heavy seas, even standing was a struggle.

But his bravery has already made him a hero in the eyes of many. A 13-year-old facing towering waves. A family hanging on in the dark. And a swim that made the difference between tragedy and survival.

Key Takeaways

• A 13-year-old swam about 4km through massive waves to save his family.

• His mum and two siblings drifted 14km and waited 10 hours for rescue.

• Police say his courage and determination saved their lives.

Australian boy, 13, swims four hours to save family swept out to sea

This is a hero

That's a real genius of a mother.