A 13-year-old boy’s quick thinking helped save his family, after they were swept out to sea while kayaking and paddleboarding.
A teenager praised for his “superhuman” hero effort after swimming 4km through shark-frequented waters to save his family, who were swept out to sea, has described the moment he collapsed on the beach only to get back up to sprint to a phone.
A multi-agency deployment was needed save an adult and two children last Friday after they were blown out to sea on their inflatable paddleboards and kayaks in waters off Quindalup, along Western Australia’s southern coast.
The family were on a holiday when strong offshore winds pushed them offshore.
The boy told Sky News he collapsed on the beach but then had to get up to run to a phone.
Marine authorities were only alerted to the family’s predicament after the 13-year-old boy made his way back to shore.
The child was forced to swim the rest of the way after his kayak began taking on water.
“I just said ‘all right, not today, not today, not today’,” the boy told Sky News.
“I do breastroke, I do freestyle, I do survival backstroke.
“I hit the bottom of the beach and I just collapsed, and then after that I had to sprint 2km to go get to the phone.”
Marine authorities were able to rescue the family of the teenager after he swam 4km to shore, through rough, shark-frequented waters, to alert authorities that his family had been swept out to sea. Picture: ABC
The multi-agency deployment included the AMSAR SAR aircraft from Perth, RAC Helicopter from Bunbury, two Rescue vessels from Marine Rescue Naturaliste and two vessels from Marine Rescue Busselton. Picture: ABC
The waters are known for their frequent shark sightings, with WA’s SharkSmart website tracking multiple sightings along the south west coast in the past week alone.
Naturaliste Marine Rescue commander Paul Bresland told the ABC the rest of the child’s family — his 47-year-old mother and brothers, 12 and eight — were rescued at 8.30pm, clinging to a paddleboard 14km offshore.
Mr Bresland said the 13-year-old showed “superhuman” efforts swimming to shore to alert authorities.
“He swam in, he reckons, the first two hours with a life jacket on,” he told the broadcaster.
The teen has been praised for his heroism. Picture: ABC
The multi-agency deployment included the AMSAR SAR aircraft from Perth, RAC Helicopter from Bunbury, two Rescue vessels from Marine Rescue Naturaliste and two vessels from Marine Rescue Busselton.
In a Facebook post, Marine Rescue Busselton said it was a “fantastic effort” and great outcome from everyone involved in the “very trying conditions”.
“Please be mindful of the strong offshore winds that can occur this time of year,” the agency stated in their post.
South West Police Inspector James Bradley also joined in the praise of the child’s actions.
“Thankfully, all three people were wearing life jackets, which contributed to their survival,” he told the ABC.
“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.”
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