A 13-year-old boy swam 4 kilometers through rough ocean for four hours after his mother and two siblings were swept out to sea near Dunsborough, Western Australia. He ran 2 kilometers barefoot to call for help. Rescuers found them clinging to paddleboards 14 km offshore after 10 hours.

[u/Electronic-Bus-3494]

Austin Appelbee was 13. His mother Joanne and two younger siblings were swept out to sea. He tried a kayak first, but it started filling with water, so he abandoned it and swam. Alone. Through choppy water. As daylight faded. Four kilometers. Nearly four hours.

He reached shore, ran another two kilometers barefoot to their accommodation, and used his mother's phone to call for help. A major marine rescue operation launched. Rescuers later found Joanne and the two younger children clinging to paddleboards about 14 kilometers offshore. They had been drifting for nearly 10 hours.

Authorities credited Austin's actions with bringing rescuers to them. A 13-year-old with nothing but willpower and bare feet.

[u/Tropicalfisher]

Tiny mom probably, judging from the fact that she is barely taller than the kids

[u/mrsir1987 → u/Tropicalfisher]

Okay also the kid has crutches, is that from the endeavor or does he have developmental issues?

[u/NicolleL → u/mrsir1987]

From the endeavor.

From another article:

Austin has even gone back to school since the incident, showing up on Monday in a wheelchair due to leg pain before swapping it for crutches.

[u/mrsir1987 → u/NicolleL]

Thank you! I’m definitely one of the people that doesn’t read the actual article lol.

[u/Tropicalfisher → u/mrsir1987]

That I have no idea, was wondering the same thing