We Must Have a Aircraft to Locate Them’: 13-Year-Old’s Distress Call to Aid Family Adrift Off Australian Coast Revealed

“We ended up adrift out there,” young Austin Appelbee informs the 000 call handler, after swimming 2.5 miles in treacherous, open water and sprinting 2km to secure help for his household.

The operator questions how much time has passed since he set off.

“[It] was quite some time back … I think they’re far offshore. I think we require a chopper to search for them,” he reports.

Emergency services have released the recorded plea made in recent weeks after the youth departed from his loved ones adrift at sea off the Western Australian coast to fetch help.

His tone remains clear and calm, even as he expresses his worry for his family members.

“I don’t know what their state is right now, and I’m really scared,” he confides in the operator.

“Mum said to seek assistance … We were in grave peril.”

The Dangerous Incident

The family group had been swept 2.5 miles out to sea in rough conditions while kayaking and paddleboarding.

His mum asked him to use his craft and find help, so the boy began, ditching first his failing kayak then his cumbersome lifejacket to make the journey by swimming.

After reaching land – four hours later – he sprinted for 2km to access a phone.

“Hello, my name is Austin … I have younger siblings, Beau and Grace. Beau is 12 and Grace is eight,” he states the call handler.

“I’m sitting on the beach right now, and I have to also add – I think I need an ambulance because I think I have a dangerously low body temperature … I’m really, I’m completely exhausted. I have hyperthermia, and I feel like I’m about to collapse.”

A Getaway in Peril

The holidaymakers was on vacation in Quindalup, 200km south of Perth. They began their trip from Geographe Bay following 10am on a Friday in late January.

The mother later described that they were having fun when the kids “ventured out too far”. The conditions worsened, they dropped their paddles, and started being carried out.

“It pretty much all turned bad very, very quickly,” she remarked.

The mother also described having to make “one of the hardest decisions” to ask her son to swim to land.

“I knew he was the most capable and he was able to manage it,” she commented.

The Search Operation

The teenager explained being “very puffed out”.

“I just keep swimming, I do breaststroke, I do front crawl, I do a floating stroke,” he explained.

The call for help was made at approximately 6pm.

At roughly 8.30pm, ten hours after they first departed, the stranded individuals were found and brought to safety. They had drifted about fourteen kilometres out to sea.

The recording was made public with the mother’s permission.

A forward commander who managed the operation said the group was in an “desperately dangerous position”.

“They were in genuine danger, and time was absolutely critical given how long they had been in the water and with night approaching.

“What the teenager did was truly remarkable. His bravery and courage in those conditions were exceptional, and his actions were instrumental in bringing about a positive result.”

The commander also praised how the boy clearly relayed vital details.

When asked to describe the equipment for the rescue team, the youth replied: “They were coloured green and white.”

“And I’m not sure if it’s still on, but they had this fishing rod, and there was a fish on there. As we hooked one.”