Overview
- Austin Appelbee, 13, swam about 4 kilometres to shore to raise the alarm, enabling a multi‑agency rescue of his mother and siblings after roughly nine hours at sea.
- The family was located around 14 kilometres offshore by an operation involving WA Water Police, local volunteer marine rescue groups and an RAC Rescue helicopter.
- Families and instructors in WA’s South West are urging a shift in children’s lessons toward ocean survival skills such as navigating rips, currents and endurance, echoing Royal Life Saving findings on beach drownings.
- WorkSafe confirmed an investigation into Club Wyndham, the hotel that hired the kayak and paddleboards to the family, and the hotel denies wrongdoing.
- The WA premier sent a letter praising Austin’s actions, and a separate GoFundMe set up by a Tasmanian man drew donations while his connection to the family remained unclear.