Thirteen year old Austin Appelbee was enjoying a family vacation in Western Australia when strong winds suddenly pushed their inflatable paddleboards and kayak far out into Geographe Bay, leaving him separated from his mother Joanne and siblings Beau and Grace. The brave teenager attempted to paddle back in his kayak to get help but when it started taking on water he had to swim the remaining four kilometers with every second counting to save his family. Austin swam two hours with his life jacket then ditched it because the weight was slowing him down, swimming two more hours without flotation repeating to himself not today not today not today. When Austin finally collapsed on the beach exhausted he found strength to sprint two more kilometers to a phone, calmly telling emergency services he needed helicopters planes and boats because his family was out at sea.
Marine Rescue commander Paul called Austin’s efforts superhuman saying his detailed descriptions helped rescuers locate the family within hours 14 kilometers offshore clinging to a paddleboard after drifting eight to ten hours. Joanne later explained she kept saying she could not go on but her children were looking her in the eyes so she kept going earning her own hero status. The family was discharged over the weekend and visited rescue teams to say thank you with Austin now on crutches because doctors said his exertion equaled running two marathons. When asked what gave him power to accomplish such heroic acts Austin said he did not think it was actually him swimming but that it was God the whole time, and he kept praying saying he would get baptized if he made it through proving faith and determination can swim oceans.
Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-02/geographe-bay-rescue-boy-superhuman-swim/106296100
