Australian Teen Swims 4km to Save Family
A 13-year-old boy in Western Australia is being hailed for his extraordinary bravery after swimming 4km (2.49 miles) through rough waters to raise the alarm when his mother and two siblings were swept out to sea. The incident occurred on Friday in Geographe Bay, approximately 200km (124 miles) south of Perth.
According to police reports, the family were paddleboarding and kayaking when strong winds pushed them off course. The teenager initially attempted to paddle back to shore on his kayak to seek help, but the kayak took on water, forcing him to swim the remaining distance.
The boy’s mother, Joanne Appelbee, reportedly told him to swim ashore, believing he was the strongest and could make it. He began the swim with a life jacket, but after approximately two hours, he discarded it, continuing the remaining two hours without assistance. He ultimately reached shore and ran another 2km (1.24 miles) to his family’s accommodation to call emergency services around 6:00 PM local time on Friday.
“He swam in, he reckons, the first two hours with a life jacket on,” said Paul Bresland, commander of the Naturaliste Volunteer Marine Rescue Group, as reported by ABC News. “The brave fella thought he’s not going to make it with a life jacket on, so he ditched it and he swam the next two hours without a life jacket.” Bresland described the teenager’s efforts as “superhuman.”
Following the alarm, a rescue helicopter located the boy’s 47-year-old mother, her 12-year-old son, and her 8-year-old daughter clinging to a paddleboard approximately 14km (8.7 miles) offshore around 8:30 PM. A volunteer marine rescue vessel then successfully retrieved them and brought them back to shore. All three family members were wearing life jackets, which authorities say contributed to their survival.
Insp. James Bradley of WA Police stated that the incident serves as an important reminder of how quickly ocean conditions can change.
The Science Behind the Feat
Experts suggest the teenager’s endurance may be attributed to the body’s response to a high-stress, fight-or-flight situation. Prof. David Bishop, a muscle exercise physiologist at Victoria University, explained that such situations can enable individuals to exceed their perceived limits. The release of adrenaline and other stress hormones can provide a temporary boost in energy and strength.
Researchers have observed similar instances of extraordinary strength in stressful situations, including reports of individuals lifting heavy objects to save others. A 1961 study found that people demonstrated increased strength during a forearm flexion task when startled by a sudden noise.
Prof. Anthony Blazevich, a biomechanics professor at Edith Cowan University, noted that children often exhibit rapid recovery rates during intense activity, comparable to elite endurance athletes. However, adults generally have larger cardiovascular systems and nervous systems that are less prone to fatigue.
The teenager himself described focusing on maintaining forward momentum, alternating between breaststroke, freestyle, and survival backstroke to conserve energy. He also stated he was thinking about his friends, which may have contributed to his determination.
The incident echoes other remarkable survival stories at sea, including the case of Brett Archibald, who survived for over 28 hours after falling overboard in the Indian Ocean, and the Syrian refugee Yusra Mardini, who swam for over three hours to reach Lesbos, pulling a migrant boat to safety.
