What began as a routine family outing on the Western Australian coast turned into an international story of survival when 13 year old Austin Appelbee swam for hours through rough seas to save his mother and two younger siblings. The dramatic rescue has drawn global attention, with particular interest in Ireland due to Austin’s family ties through his Irish born mother.
Austin was kayaking with his mother Joanne and his younger brother and sister near Geographe Bay in Western Australia when weather and sea conditions suddenly deteriorated. Strong winds and rough waters caused their kayak to capsize, leaving the family stranded and drifting further from shore. As time passed and conditions worsened, the situation became increasingly dangerous.
With no safe way to bring all three children back to shore herself, Joanne Appelbee made a critical decision. She instructed Austin to attempt the swim alone and raise the alarm. At just 13 years old, Austin set off towards land, initially trying to paddle using an inflatable kayak before abandoning it when it began to fill with water.
He then made the difficult choice to remove his life jacket, believing it was slowing him down, and continued swimming through strong currents and rough seas. The swim lasted around four hours and covered several kilometres. Eventually, exhausted but determined, Austin reached shore and immediately contacted emergency services to report his family’s location.
A large scale search and rescue operation was launched, involving marine rescue crews and a helicopter. Using the information provided by Austin, rescuers located Joanne and the two younger children far offshore, where they had spent many hours in the water clinging to a paddleboard while wearing life jackets. All three were rescued safely.
The story has resonated strongly in Ireland because Joanne Appelbee is originally from Carrickmacross in County Monaghan. Although she now lives in Australia, she retains close links to Ireland, making the ordeal especially poignant for Irish audiences following the story from afar.
Following the rescue, all members of the family were medically assessed. Despite severe exhaustion and prolonged exposure to the elements, none required hospital treatment. Emergency services praised Austin’s calm thinking and physical endurance, describing his actions as remarkable for someone so young.
Austin has since said he focused on staying positive and continuing forward, rather than thinking about how far he still had to swim. His decision to act, and his ability to endure the conditions, were central to the successful rescue of his family.
Austin Appelbee’s story is one of resilience, courage and instinct under pressure. It is also a story that connects Australia and Ireland through family ties, highlighting how an Irish link sits at the heart of an extraordinary act of bravery.
