Aussie teen swims 4km in open sea to save family
6 FEBRUARY 2026
Australian boy swims for hours in rough seas to save his family.
A 13-year-old boy who swam for hours to raise the alarm after his family was swept out to sea in Western Australia has spoken about the pain, fear and determination that kept him going.
Austin Appelbee made the gruelling swim back to shore last week after he, his mother and two younger siblings were swept out to sea.
The family was holidaying in the ocean at Geographe Bay, Australia, when their inflatable paddleboards and kayak were pushed offshore by strong winds, ABC reported.
With conditions deteriorating, Austin attempted to paddle back to shore in a kayak but it began taking on water in the rough seas.
Read the story from Stuff here.
