Chilling Triple-0 call reveals teen's heroic swim to save stranded family
Audio recordings of a Triple-0 emergency call have revealed the extraordinary composure and bravery of 13-year-old Austin Appelbee, who swam four kilometres through treacherous surf to save his stranded family members off Western Australia's South West coast.
The desperate situation unfolds
The schoolboy calmly explained to emergency operators that his mother Joanne and two younger siblings Beau, 12, and Grace, 8, had become stranded while using paddleboards and a kayak on January 30. The family had been swept out to sea by strong currents, prompting his mother to instruct Austin to swim back to shore for help.
"It was a very long time ago," Austin told the operator, referring to when he last saw his family. "We couldn't get back to shore, and mum told me to go back to get help. I haven't seen them since."
The gruelling journey to safety
During his mammoth swim through rough conditions, Austin made the difficult decision to abandon his kayak and life jacket to battle against the powerful current more effectively. After completing the four-kilometre swim, he then ran an additional two kilometres to reach a phone and contact emergency services.
The composed teenager expressed his fears during the call, stating he was "really scared" about his family's whereabouts, having lost sight of them during his swim to shore.
Physical toll and immediate concerns
Despite his remarkable composure, Austin revealed the physical toll of his ordeal, telling the operator: "I'm extremely tired. I feel like I'm about to pass out. I'm very dizzy."
He demonstrated remarkable presence of mind by requesting both a helicopter search for his family and medical assistance for himself, stating: "I think we need a helicopter to go find them. I'm sitting on the beach right now and I have to also explain I think I need an ambulance because I think I have hypothermia."
Successful rescue operation
Austin's heroic effort triggered a major search operation that ultimately located his family members floating in the ocean approximately 14 kilometres from land around 8.30pm. The family had been in the water for more than eight hours since being swept out to sea just after 11am that morning.
The successful rescue operation brought all family members to safety, concluding a harrowing day that could have ended tragically without Austin's courageous actions.
Recognition and future prospects
Austin's extraordinary bravery captured international attention and earned praise from Western Australian authorities. WA Police Minister Reece Whitby publicly commended the teenager, stating: "Austin, remarkable bravery, determination, commitment for such a young man."
Whitby went further, extending a future invitation to the police academy: "So the message for Austin from me and the (Police) Commissioner (Col Blanch), in a couple of years you'll be invited to join the academy. We could do with good young men like you."
The incident serves as a powerful reminder of both the dangers of coastal waters and the extraordinary capacity for courage that can emerge in emergency situations, even from the youngest members of our community.
