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/LocoDesignIdeas]

Agreed
Been doing sports all my life , I'd say right under the "I'm gonna do a triathlon" level -- no way would I make 4 km in rough seas. And I know that because I had 2 swimm 1km in a pool for a sport test and I was Cooooooked.

I also couldn't believe it if there wasn't some record

[u/polishmachine88 → u/LocoDesignIdeas]

The 4km is just a tad over Ironman swim distance funny since you mentioned triathlon.

As someone that have finished few Ironmans...the biggest challenges to the untrained is visibility and breathing in wavy waters.

If you are just ok swimmer and can float you can stop and catch a breath but it's really exhausting when you can't see shit.

What is the absolutely most impressive he was able to lock in on a land mark and swim towards that....at 13 that is incredibly impressive.

[u/reggieiscrap → u/polishmachine88]

This kid should absolutely get an honorary ironman.. in fact TWO !! With thr current Australian iron Man champion placing it around his neck..

[u/poncho388 → u/reggieiscrap]

He should definitely get his swimming cert.

[u/GameofCheese → u/poncho388]

Lol but true

[u/StellarSteck → u/poncho388]

I said the same thing!!!

[u/karenely → u/poncho388]

😆

[u/LocoDesignIdeas → u/polishmachine88]

This right here is my point I'd like to say I am trained as a mf, but NOT for swimming. Swimming is another beast

[u/AndrewH73333 → u/polishmachine88]

How did he see the land? I’ve read you can only see about a mile away on the surface of the water.

[u/Inveramsay → u/LocoDesignIdeas]

The most I've ever swam in the sea was about 500m and even with minimal waves it was rough going. I've never had the technique for really efficient swimming and it sounds like this kid didn't either so I'm incredibly impressed

[u/TrueGamer3kk → u/LocoDesignIdeas]

Im trying to use a bit of logic here, and sea water is salty and keeps you afloat, and i also believe the sea was maybe not as rough.

[u/ashgs872tbhjs → u/TrueGamer3kk]

Not as rough as what bro? The absolute calmest the ocean ever is is rough as fuck compared to a pool. Go the fuck outside sometimes, Jesus

[u/sands_of__time → u/ashgs872tbhjs]

The fact is that what this kid did was absolutely amazing, but it's also true that he was swimming through very calm waters in a very protected bay (Geography Bay). In such conditions, it very well may have been physically (not psychologically) easier than swimming in a freshwater pool, because of the buoyancy of the saltwater.

[u/bloody_ell → u/sands_of__time]

They were swept out to sea, so I'd imagine those prevailing conditions weren't in play.

[u/StellaV-R → u/sands_of__time]

Have you done any open water swimming?
‘Cos you forgot about the tide & current, and even calm water has waves. Then there’s the salt - in your eyes & drying out your mouth. And sighting too (going in a straight line)

[u/ThePianistOfDoom → u/ashgs872tbhjs]

You are right, but the way you express your offense is a little over the top mate, it's just a discussion on the internet, not a life or death situation lol

[u/Potential-Recover-78 → u/ashgs872tbhjs]

That really varies by locale. The ocean can be nearly flat, like the north shore of Hawaii in winter, or anything in between.

[u/TrueGamer3kk → u/ashgs872tbhjs]

Oh man sure just go outside to the OCEAN. Well i don't live by one.

[u/sanga17 → u/TrueGamer3kk]

This is hilarious. ashgs872tbhjs is right though, what this kid has done is insane, literally incredulous.

[u/TrueGamer3kk → u/sanga17]

Nah i get it im just trying to think how exactly did he manage because it sounds impossible. Do you think maybe the waves carried him? Don't tell me he also swam against the current.

[u/gaellamaas → u/TrueGamer3kk]

why did you even bother suggesting that the ocean is going to be not as rough to swim in as a pool if you’ve never been in it? This is common knowledge even if you don’t live near the beach, use your brain, nobody is going to their local pool with a surfboard.

[u/TrueGamer3kk → u/gaellamaas]

I've seen footage of calm ocean. Are you saying theres no such thing as a calm ocean? Little wind? Slow waves?

[u/dream-smasher → u/TrueGamer3kk]

Not when it's coming into shore.

[u/Able_Relative4049 → u/TrueGamer3kk]

Have you seen pictures of it tho? It’s generally pretty wavy

[u/Sparrowlegslulu → u/TrueGamer3kk]

The reason they were swept out is because the sea turned inclement. So yeah it was rough. Actually read an article about it or even watch some clips of his news appearance and be amazed at this kid and what he did.

[u/bloody_ell → u/TrueGamer3kk]

Salt water is more buoyant, true. And that makes treading water in say, a calm inlet off the Mediterranean Sea a bit easier than doing it in Lake Michigan (wouldn't say easier than a swimming pool though) But the open ocean is a different story, those waves can dump experienced swimmers under the water and the currents can drown them. Any swim in the open ocean should be monitored.

[u/smarteapantz → u/TrueGamer3kk]

It wasn’t rough?? And that’s why his mom and siblings weren’t blown out to sea for 14 km (almost 9 miles) and missing for 10 hours??

Yeah, makes sense! It was so calm, they could have just paddled back on their paddle-boards, right?? What pussies!!

NOT.

You’re an ass.