Boy swims 2.5 miles to save mom, siblings swept out to sea: "Superhuman"

February 3, 2026

TL;DR

Austin Appelbee, 13, swam 4 kilometers to shore to get help for his family.
His mother, Joanne Appelbee, and siblings Beau (12) and Grace (8) were swept out to sea.
Austin swam for approximately four hours through rough seas.
He initially used an inflatable kayak but abandoned it and ditched his life jacket to swim more effectively.
The mother and two younger children were found clinging to a paddleboard by a search helicopter.
The family was on vacation and using hired kayaks and paddleboards when conditions changed.
All family members were medically assessed and did not require hospitalization.

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