'It Was God The Whole Time': 13-Year-Old Australian Boy Swims For Four Hours To Rescue Family

Last Updated:February 04, 2026, 08:38 IST

Austin Appelbee, 13, swam for four hours in freezing Geographe Bay to save his mother Joanne, brother Beau, and sister Grace after they were swept offshore in Western Australia.

Australian Boy, 13, Swims For Four Hours To Save Family (Image credit: AP)

In an act of courage and love, a 13-year-old boy from Perth swam for four hours in freezing seawater to save his mother and two younger siblings after they were swept offshore in Western Australia.

The incident occurred on January 30, while the family was on vacation in Quindalup. According to a report by The Guardian, strong winds and colossal waves caused the family — including Austin Appelbee, his mother Joanne (47), brother Beau (12), and sister Grace (8)– to get swept into Geographe Bay.

At the time of the incident, they were reportedly using hired paddleboards and a kayak. The 13-year-old boy, now being described as a “superhuman", had a conversation with his mother and paddled his kayak back towards the shore, swimming for an incredible four hours to reach there.

Little Austin swam the first two hours with a life jacket, but later ditched it because it was causing him to slow down.

After reaching the shore, he collapsed from exhaustion but managed to sprint for another two kilometres to find a phone and alert the rescuers at around 6 P.M.

The Rescue Begins

The three family members were spotted at around 8:30 P.M., when a multi-agency search consisting of helicopters and boats was initiated.

The trio was then rescued from the water by a volunteer marine rescue vessel. Meanwhile, authorities credited Austin’s detailed description of their equipment, which helped the rescuers locate the family within an hour of the search launch.

All members are reported to be safe and were treated for minor injuries.

‘It Was God’

13-year-old Austin, speaking to Associated Press, thanked god for the miracle.

“I don’t think it was actually me [swimming]… It was God the whole time. I kept on praying, kept on praying. I said to God, ‘I’ll get baptised’", he said.

Austin described how he motivated self to keep swimming, given the waves were massive.

“The waves are massive, and I have no life jacket on… I just kept thinking ‘just keep swimming, just keep swimming,'" he added.

News world 'It Was God The Whole Time': 13-Year-Old Australian Boy Swims For Four Hours To Rescue Family

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