We Must Have a Aircraft to Go Find Them’: 13-Year-Old’s Distress Call to Save Family Lost Off Down Under Coast Unveiled

“We became disoriented out there,” young Austin Appelbee tells the emergency operator, having swum 2.5 miles in rough, the sea and running 1.25 miles to summon rescue for his household.

The dispatcher asks how much time has elapsed since he set off.

“[It] was a very long time ago … I think they’re far offshore. I think we need a rescue aircraft to go find them,” he states.

Police have disclosed the distress call made in recent weeks after the teen left his relatives drifting at sea off the West Australian coast to seek assistance.

His voice remains clear and calm, even as he details his worry for his family members.

“I am unsure of what their state is right now, and I’m terrified,” he informs the operator.

“Mum said to seek assistance … We were in massive trouble.”

The Perilous Situation

The family group had been carried 4km out to sea in treacherous conditions while using kayaks and paddleboards.

His mother asked him to set out and find help, so the youth commenced, ditching first his sinking craft then his unwieldy PFD to cover the remaining stretch.

After reaching land – following a four-hour swim – he ran for 2km to access a cell phone.

“Hello, my name is Austin … I have two siblings, Beau and Grace. Beau is 12 and Grace is eight,” he states the call handler.

“I’m positioned on the beach right now, and I have to also add – I think I need an paramedic because I think I have exposure … I’m really, I’m utterly fatigued. I have sunstroke, and I feel like I’m about to collapse.”

A Holiday Turned Crisis

The family was on a break in Quindalup, two hundred kilometres south of Perth. They began their trip from Geographe Bay some time after 10am on a Friday in late January.

The parent later explained that they were playing around when the young ones “ventured out too far”. The conditions worsened, they lost their oars, and started floating away.

“It sort of all turned bad very, very quickly,” she said.

The parent also referenced having to make “one of the hardest decisions” to send her son to swim ashore.

“I knew he was the best swimmer and he was able to manage it,” she stated.

The Rescue Effort

The youth explained being “completely out of breath”.

“I just keep swimming, I do the breaststroke, I do front crawl, I do elementary backstroke,” he said.

The distress call was made at about 6pm.

At about 8.30pm, many hours after they first departed, the stranded individuals were found and brought to safety. They had drifted about fourteen kilometres out to sea.

The audio was shared with the family’s permission.

A forward commander who oversaw the search and rescue effort said the family was in an “desperately dangerous position”.

“They were in real trouble, and time was absolutely critical given how long they had been in the water and with night approaching.

“What the boy did was incredibly brave. His bravery and courage in those conditions were remarkable, and his actions were pivotal in bringing about a rescue.”

The sergeant also commended how the youth calmly conveyed vital details.

When asked to detail the boards for the rescue team, the teenager responded: “They were a green and white colour.”

“And I’m not sure if it’s still on, but they had this fishing line, and there was a catch on the line. Because we managed to catch a fish.”