By Jack Guy, NCS
(NCS) — A 13-year-old boy who was swept out to sea together with his mother and two siblings saved his household by swimming 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) to shore for help “in rough conditions,” police in Australia mentioned.
The group have been kayaking and paddleboarding off the coast of Quindalup, Western Australia, on Friday afternoon after they have been carried out to sea, mentioned the WA Police Force in a statement revealed on Facebook on Monday.
The boy “decided to return to shore in fading light,” and paddled a brief distance in his kayak earlier than it took on water, leaving him to swim again and alert authorities at round 6 p.m. native time (5 a.m. ET), mentioned police.
A search and rescue operation was then launched, and a 47-year-old lady, a 12-year-old boy and an eight-year-old lady have been “located by the rescue helicopter clinging to a paddleboard,” in accordance to the assertion.
“A volunteer marine rescue vessel was directed to their location and all three were successfully rescued and returned to shore,” mentioned police.
The boy, Austin Appelbee, informed NCS affiliate 9News that considering of his household drove him on.
“I just said ‘alright. Not today, not today, not today,’” he mentioned. “I had to keep on going.”
“The waves were massive. I did breaststroke, I did freestyle, I did survival backstroke,” Austin informed the outlet.
“I hit the bottom of the beach and I just collapsed and then after that I had to sprint two kilometers to go get to the phone,” he added.
The boy’s feat was a “superhuman effort,” Marine Rescue commander Paul Bresland informed 9News.
“Two hours without a life jacket on and yeah, he made it,” mentioned Bresland.
Austin’s mother Joanne Appelbee mentioned that every one of her kids had been swimming since they have been younger.
“I’m speechless at his efforts, but at the same time, I knew he could do it,” she informed 9News.
Marine Rescue Busselton mentioned that it was “a great outcome” in a separate statement revealed on Facebook on Saturday.
“Fantastic effort from all involved in trying conditions,” learn the assertion.
“Please be mindful of the strong offshore winds that can occur this time of year,” it added.
The-NCS-Wire
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