'I Just Said, Not Today': 13-Year-Old Swims For Hours To Save His Family

February 4, 2026

What began as a fun family beach day in Western Australia turned into a terrifying 10-hour ordeal — and an incredible story of courage — thanks to one determined 13-year-old boy.

The Applebee family / Credit: Associated Press

Austin Appelbee was paddleboarding and kayaking with his mother, Joanne, and his two younger siblings near Quindalup beach when strong winds suddenly picked up. Before they knew it, the family was being pushed farther and farther from shore.

“We lost oars, and we drifted out further… it all went wrong very, very quickly,” Joanne told the BBC.

Realizing they were in serious trouble, Joanne made an impossible decision. She asked Austin, the oldest child, to try to reach shore and get help — while she stayed behind with Beau, 12, and Grace, 8.

“One of the hardest decisions I ever had to make was to say to Austin: ‘Try and get to shore and get some help,’” she later said.

Austin set off in an inflatable kayak, but it soon began taking on water. He lost an oar. The kayak flipped. Eventually, he was forced to abandon it altogether.

“It started flipping, and then I lost an oar and I knew I was in trouble,” Austin said. “I started paddling with my arm.”

With no kayak and eventually no life jacket, Austin made the choice to swim.

For nearly four hours, he battled rough waves and exhaustion, swimming about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) toward shore. Along the way, he lost sight of his family — and they lost sight of him.

“I was really scared… I just said, 'Not today. Not today. Not today. I have to keep on going.’”

As the sun began to set, Joanne feared the worst.

Out at sea, the remaining three clung to a paddleboard, wearing life jackets but with no food or water as the waves grew bigger and the cold set in. They sang songs, prayed, and tried to stay positive as darkness closed in.

Meanwhile, Austin kept going.

“It was prayer, Christian songs and happy thoughts,” he said. “I was thinking about mum, Beau and Grace.”

Finally, just after 6 p.m., Austin reached shore.

“When I hit the floor I thought, how am I on land right now — is this a dream?” he said.

Barely able to stand, Austin found his mother’s bag, made the emergency call, and then collapsed. The call triggered a massive search effort.

Hours later, a rescue helicopter spotted Joanne, Beau, and Grace about 14 kilometers (nearly 9 miles) offshore. They had spent up to 10 hours in the water.

By the time rescuers reached them, the children were freezing, and Beau had lost feeling in his legs. Still, all three were alive.

When Austin learned his family had been found, the moment was unforgettable.

“Everyone — doctors and police officers — were jumping up and down with joy,” he said.

All four family members were treated for minor injuries and released. Austin even returned to school days later, though on crutches due to severe muscle soreness.

Despite widespread praise, Austin insists he’s not a hero.

“I didn’t think I was a hero — I just did what I did,” he said, calling the experience a “tough battle.”

Rescue commander Paul Bresland described Austin’s effort as “superhuman,” while Police Inspector James Bradley said his actions “cannot be praised highly enough — his determination and courage ultimately saved the lives of his mother and siblings.”

As for Joanne, her gratitude is simple and powerful.

“I have three babies,” she said. “All three made it. That was all that mattered.”

Watch the video below:

Sources: BBC News, New York Post