A 13-year-old boy has been hailed a hero by netizens all over the world after he swam around four kilometres (approximately 2.5 miles) to get help for his stranded mother and siblings.
Austin Appleby was on holiday in Quindalup, Western Australia, and enjoying a day in the water with his mother Joanne, 47, and siblings Beau, 12, and Grace, 8.
The family got into trouble when their inflatable kayak and paddleboats were swept out to sea off the West Australian coast around noon.
Realising the seriousness of the situation, it was decided that Austin would row the inflatable kayak back to shore to raise the alarm.
At first, he attempted to tow his family members on the light-weight vessel, but when it started taking on water, Austin had to change plans and swim on his own.
The youth, who took his first swimming lessons at the age of four, said he was fighting rough seas and at one stage thought he had seen something in the water.
“I just said, ‘Not today, not today, not today, I have to keep on going,’” he told reporters.
“I could feel how tired I was. I was more thinking of things that were happening in my life.
“I think at one point I was thinking of Thomas the Tank Engine ... trying to get the happiest things in my head.”
Austin said the waves were massive and he had no life jacket on.
“At one point when I was doing breast-stroke I could actually see under water which I couldn’t do before,” he said.
After collapsing on shore, Austin had to sprint another 2 kilometres to make his way to a phone to call Triple Zero.
“I said I need helicopters, I need planes, I need boats, my family’s out at sea,” he said.
Austin said he worried he'd taken too long and that his family might have passed away while he was swimming to shore.
“I’ve got a girlfriend and I was thinking about her the whole time, she gave me her lackeys [bracelets] and I was just thinking of that the whole time—just keep on swimming, keep on swimming,” he said.
“I don’t think it was actually me who did that. It was God the whole time.
“I kept on praying and kept on praying and I said to God, ‘I’ll get baptised,' and I went to church on Sunday.”
Joanne said she sent her son to get help because he was the strongest swimmer—he is also taller than his mum—but said she couldn’t stand to leave her children alone and that it was one of the hardest decisions she had to make.
The three family members kept their spirits up as they drifted 14 kilometres from the shore, singing and making jokes until dark skies and big waves started to make the situation feel more ominous.
“There’s no bigger word to describe him other than proud ... me and his dad are super proud,” she said.
West Australian Water Police, a rescue chopper and Naturaliste Marine Rescue were all activated and the stranded Appleby trio were rescued around 8.30 p.m.
WA Premier Roger Cook called Austin’s actions “an extraordinary act of courage”.
“Austin swam 4 kilometres through rough seas to reach shore, then ran a further 2 kilometres to his mum’s phone to raise the alarm for his mum, brother and sister, who were still stranded offshore.
“Austin’s bravery is beyond his years, showing remarkable courage, resilience and determination in the face of real danger.”
While retired U.S. Army lieutenant-general and commentator Mike Flynn also weighed in writing on X: “Wow!!! What an amazing story of courage and divine intervention.”