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February 4, 2026

Mother says asking 13-year-old son to swim four hours to save family ‘one of the hardest decisions’

‘What have I done?’ thought Joanne Appelbee as she waited for rescue with her two other children in rough seas off Western Australia

Mother says asking 13-year-old son to swim four hours to save family ‘one of the hardest decisions’

TL;DR

  • The Appelbee family was on holiday in Quindalup when strong winds pushed their paddleboards and kayak offshore.
  • Joanne Appelbee made the decision to send her 13-year-old son, Austin, to swim 4km to shore for help.
  • Austin successfully reached the shore and contacted emergency services, leading to the rescue of his mother and younger siblings.
  • The family was found drifting about 14km offshore.
  • Austin described the experience as a "nightmare" but was praised by a police inspector for his "determination and courage."

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