Hotel Faces Penalties After Failing to Raise Alarm for Missing Family at Sea
A hotel in Dunsborough, Western Australia, has been hit with penalties following a WorkSafe investigation into its failure to raise the alarm when a Perth family became lost at sea. The incident occurred on January 30, when the Appelbee family, including mother Joanne and her children Beau, 12, and Grace, 8, were stranded off the South West coast.
Heroic Swim by Teenager Leads to Rescue
Austin Appelbee, 13, demonstrated remarkable bravery by swimming four kilometres through rough surf and running two kilometres to phone police. His actions alerted authorities that his family was in distress. The hotel, Club Wyndham, had provided the family with a kayak and paddleboards but did not notice they had not returned after nine hours.
WorkSafe has issued compliance notices to the hotel, banning it from providing water equipment to guests until it meets safety standards. The hotel must comply before it can lend out aquatic gear again.
International Attention for Teen's Calm Response
The story gained international attention after WA Police released the Triple-0 call made by Austin. In the recording, the composed teen explained how they were taken out to sea and his mother trusted him to get help because they were in major trouble. He said, We couldn't get back to shore, and mum told me to go back to get help. I haven't seen them since. I think they're kilometres out in sea. I think we need a helicopter to go find them.
His heroic effort sparked a major search, and the family was found floating in the ocean, 14 kilometres from land, around 8:30 PM on January 30.
Praise and Recognition for Austin's Bravery
Austin's actions have been widely praised, with WA Police Minister Reece Whitby commending his remarkable bravery, determination, and commitment. Whitby even suggested Austin could join the police academy in the future, saying, We could do with good young men like you.
It also emerged that Austin had only recently failed a state-run swimming program shortly before his superhuman effort, highlighting his extraordinary resilience in the face of danger.
The incident underscores the importance of safety protocols in recreational activities, particularly in coastal areas where risks can escalate quickly.
