Overview
- Austin Appelbee, 13, swam about 4 km through rough seas after his kayak took on water, then ran roughly 2 km to call for help around 6 p.m.
- A multi-agency search found his mother Joanne and siblings Beau, 12, and Grace, 8, clinging to a paddleboard at about 8:30 p.m., roughly 14 km from Quindalup.
- Officials said the trio spent 8–10 hours in the water, credited lifejackets with their survival, and praised Austin’s actions as decisive.
- All four were medically assessed and discharged; Austin later described fearing his family had died and is recovering after briefly using crutches.
- Rescuers said his clear descriptions of their gear sped the search, prompting fresh safety reminders about offshore winds, inflatable craft, and swimming education.