‘I have to keep on going’: 13-year-old swims in rough sea for 4 hours to find help for family

A 13-year-old Australian boy is crediting God with giving him the strength to swim over 2 miles in four hours through choppy seas to get to shore and call rescue personnel on behalf of his stranded family.

Austin Appelbee, his mother and two siblings had been paddleboarding and kayaking off the coast of Quindalup, Western Australia, on Jan. 30 when they were swept out to sea.

After the 2.5-mile swim, Austin then had to sprint along the beach until he found a phone to call 000, the Australian 911 system.

“Hello, my name is Austin… I have two siblings, Beau and Grace. Beau is 12 and Grace is 8,” he said, according to a recording of the call.

“We got took out to sea and we got lost out there,” added Austin.

“I don’t know what time it was but it was a very long time ago,” he said. “We couldn’t get back to shore, and Mum told me to go back to get help.”

“I think they’re kilometers out to sea. I think we need a helicopter to go find them,” said Austin. “I don’t know what their condition is right now, and I’m really scared.”

The boy eventually told the emergency operator he thought he might need some medical attention, guessing that he had hypothermia.

“I’m extremely tired,” Austin reported. “I think I have heatstroke, and I feel like I’m about to pass out.”

Rescue personnel were sent out and found his mother, Joanne, 47, and her other two children.

In an interview posted on X, Austin said, “I don’t actually think it was me who did it. I think it was God the whole time.”

“I kept on praying. I said to God, I’ll get baptized.”

According to the post, Austin ditched his kayak and life jacket because they were slowing him down.

God made a miracle ?￰ﾟﾏﾼ

Austin Appelbee, a 13-year-old boy in Australia, who risked it all to save his family, swimming 4 hours and running over a mile to phone for help.

THE HEROIC 13-YEAR-OLD CREDITS GOD

He said God gave him the strength to save his family pic.twitter.com/uMOGnSzmNd

— Chicabonita (@chicabonita2145) February 10, 2026

According to a report at CNN, The Western Australia Police Force praised Austin’s actions in a statement Wednesday.

“Austin’s ability to think clearly under pressure demonstrates the type of composure that greatly assists first responders during emergencies,” it read.

Police forward commander acting sergeant Andrew McDonnell said that Austin had helped his family out of an “extremely dire” situation.

“They were in real trouble, and time was absolutely critical given how long they had been in the water and with daylight fading,” he said in the statement.

“What Austin did was nothing short of extraordinary,” added McDonnell. “His bravery and courage in those conditions were remarkable, and his actions were pivotal in bringing about a successful outcome.”

Here is a recording of the extraordinarily calm phone call Austin made to emergency personnel:

NEW: Emergency call released of 13-year-old Austin Appelbee telling authorities to get a helicopter after he swam for four hours to reach the shore.

Appelbee was heard calmly telling authorities that his mom and siblings were stranded at sea.

The boy was heard explaining that… pic.twitter.com/LyBEw8zM7g

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 11, 2026