13-Year-Old Swims to Save Family Lost at Sea

Imagine being faced with the choice to risk your life for someone else. For 13-year-old Austin Appelby, the answer was clear—absolutely yes. After his family was caught in a precarious situation at sea, he swam four kilometers to rescue his mother and two younger brothers. What began as a leisurely day of kayaking and paddleboarding quickly turned tense when unexpected waves overturned their boards and pulled them further into the ocean.

Despite the fear that must have set in, Austin remained focused. He mentioned, “I kept thinking, ‘I’m going to make it.’” His thoughts turned to his friends and his Christian faith, which kept him motivated. He leapt into the churning waters, initially donning a life jacket, but soon realized it was slowing him down and decided to ditch it for a quicker swim.

Even while fatigue set in, he pushed through, saying he was “so bloated” but hardly felt tired. That instinctive urge to survive kept him moving. “I kept telling myself, ‘Not today, I have to keep going.’” He mentioned swimming using various strokes—breaststroke, freestyle, and survival backstroke—as he focused on happy thoughts, even humming the theme from “Thomas the Tank Engine.” Eventually, after a four-hour journey, he managed to reach the beach and contacted emergency services for help.

Paul Bresland, a Marine Corps Rescue Volunteer, praised Austin for his bravery, noting how he swam without a life jacket for the last two hours of his journey. Thanks to his determination, his family was later located, clinging to their paddleboards just offshore from Quindalup.

Related Articles

• A 7-year-old hero swims over a mile to rescue his father and sister.