On 30 January 2026, Austin Appelbee, his mother Joanne, his 12-year-old brother Beau and his eight-year-old sister Grace were swept out to sea while kayaking and paddleboarding at Geographe Bay, near Quindalup/Dunsborough, Southern Western Australia. What began as a short family outing in apparently calm conditions quickly became a serious emergency when the weather and sea conditions deteriorated, the kayak began taking on water, paddles were lost and the family was pushed progressively farther offshore.
Following his mother's instructions, Austin attempted to paddle back using the kayak, but rough seas repeatedly overturned it and the kayak became a liability. He ultimately abandoned the kayak and continued swimming through rough open water for approximately four kilometres.
After an estimated four-hour swim, Austin reached shore exhausted, then ran approximately two kilometres to the family’s accommodation to access a phone and call emergency services. His actions enabled a multi-agency search and rescue response, including WA Water Police, rescue helicopter support and local marine rescue volunteers. His mother and siblings were located at about 8:30–8:40 pm, approximately 14 kilometres offshore, after spending up to 10 hours at sea.
Austin Appelbee in a life-threatening emergency, showed exceptional courage, composure and determination well beyond his years. He obeyed his mother, to leave her, his sister and brother alone in ocean water and at great personal risk, persevered through dangerous open-water conditions for 4 kms over a period of 4 hours, and continued acting decisively by running a further 2 kilometres on reaching land, to obtain a phone and contact emergency services.
Both his heroic actions to swim and the run to get help were instrumental in alerting emergency services and enabling the successful rescue of his mother, sister and brother.