Overview
- Thirteen-year-old Austin Appelbee and his family met Naturaliste Marine Rescue crews, local police and St John ambulance staff in Western Australia’s South West.
- Austin swam about 4 kilometres to shore near Quindalup, then ran roughly 2 kilometres to call Triple Zero, triggering a coordinated search.
- Rescuers, guided by a helicopter sighting and Water Police search patterns, located his mother Joanne and siblings after 8–10 hours adrift and about 14 kilometres offshore.
- Austin rejected the hero label, praising his siblings and thanking the responders for bringing the family back to safety.
- The family said the ordeal continues to affect them, with Beau and his mother reporting trouble sleeping and ongoing emotional strain.