A mother has recounted the harrowing moment she instructed her 13-year-old son to swim four kilometres through treacherous seas to seek help after her family became stranded far from the Western Australian coastline. Joanne Appelbee, aged 47, and her three children found themselves approximately 14 kilometres from the shore at Quindalup, located 250 kilometres south of Perth, when powerful winds unexpectedly swept their kayaks and inflatable paddleboards out into open waters last Friday.
A Desperate Decision in Perilous Conditions
Facing a rapidly deteriorating situation, Ms Appelbee made what she describes as one of the most difficult choices of her life. 'One of the hardest decisions I ever had to make was to say to Austin, try and get to shore and get some help,' she later told reporters. 'This could get really serious, really quickly. I could see the danger in [the situation], with getting dragged out a bit too far, and the waves kept coming and getting stronger.'
An Epic Swim for Survival
Her son, Austin, aged 13, bravely leapt from his kayak and embarked on the monumental swim towards land. He completed the initial two kilometres while wearing a life jacket before deciding to abandon it for the final, gruelling stretch to the beach. Upon finally reaching the shore, utterly exhausted, his ordeal was not over. He then had to sprint an additional two kilometres to locate a telephone and alert the local authorities to his family's dire predicament.
Swift Multi-Agency Rescue Operation
A coordinated search and rescue mission was swiftly launched at 8.30pm, involving WA Water Police, local marine rescue volunteers, and a rescue helicopter. Crucially, Austin was able to provide rescuers with highly detailed and accurate descriptions of the family's distinctive kayaks and paddleboards. This vital information enabled the teams to locate Ms Appelbee, her 12-year-old son, and eight-year-old daughter, who were found treading water, within an hour of the search commencing. The stranded family were then safely towed to shore by a rescue boat.
Overwhelming Fear and Immense Pride
Reflecting on the terrifying experience, Ms Appelbee described the profound fear of potentially not being rescued. 'It was pretty terrifying for a while, and I lost my glasses, so I definitely couldn't see much, and I knew we were extremely far,' she said. Her pride in her son's heroic actions, however, was boundless. 'There's no bigger word to describe [Austin], other than proud... I'm speechless at his efforts,' she stated, adding, 'But at the same time, I knew he could do it.'
A Teenager's Determination and Courage
Austin himself revealed the mental fortitude that drove him during the hours-long swim. He told reporters he repeatedly chanted to himself, 'just keep swimming, just keep swimming', and adopted a determined mantra: 'not today, not today'. 'I did breaststroke, I did freestyle, I did backstroke. I hit the bottom of the beach and just collapsed,' he recounted. 'And after that, I had to sprint 2km to get to the phone.'
High Praise from Emergency Services
South West Police Inspector James Bradley heaped praise on the teenager for his pivotal role in the successful rescue. 'The actions of the 13-year-old boy cannot be praised highly enough,' Inspector Bradley said. 'His determination and courage ultimately saved the lives of his mother and siblings.' He also highlighted that the family's use of life jackets was a critical factor in their survival, serving as an important reminder for all water users.
Following the rescue, the family were assessed by paramedics and taken to Busselton Health Campus for check-ups. They were later discharged from hospital over the weekend and had an emotional reunion with the rescue crews who brought them to safety.
