Teen's Courageous Swim to Save Family
A 13-year-old boy has been commended for his remarkable determination after swimming through rough waters in fading light to rescue his mother and two siblings who had been swept out to sea off the coast of Australia.
The family was paddleboarding and kayaking at Geographe Bay, located in the south of Western Australia, on Friday when strong winds pushed their inflatable watercraft off course, according to police reports.
The teenager initially attempted to paddle back to shore to raise the alarm; however, his kayak began to take on water. Consequently, he swam the remaining 4 kilometers (2 nautical miles) to safety.
"The bravery, strength and courage shown by this family were extraordinary, especially the young fella who swam 4km to raise the alarm," said the Naturaliste Volunteer Marine Rescue Group.
Paul Bresland, commander of the organisation, described the teenager's efforts as "superhuman."
"He swam in, he reckons, the first two hours with a life jacket on," Bresland told 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."
The boy successfully raised the alarm by 18:00 local time (10:00 GMT) on Friday evening, prompting a large-scale search for his missing relatives from Quindalup beach, near Busselton, Western Australia, police stated on Monday.
At approximately 20:30, a rescue helicopter located the boy's 47-year-old mother, his 12-year-old brother, and 8-year-old sister clinging to a paddleboard about 14 kilometers offshore.
"A volunteer marine rescue vessel was directed to their location and all three were successfully rescued and returned to shore," the police force reported.
Insp James Bradley remarked, "The incident was an important reminder of how rapidly ocean conditions can change."
"Thankfully, all three people were wearing life jackets, which contributed to their survival," he added.
"The actions of the 13-year-old boy cannot be praised highly enough - his determination and courage ultimately saved the lives of his mother and siblings."
Following their rescue, the family was assessed by paramedics and transported to a nearby hospital, police confirmed.
After being discharged, the family visited the marine rescue crew to express their gratitude, according to ABC reports.
