A 13-year-old boy in Australia has received widespread praise after swimming 4 kilometers through rough waves to seek help and save his family who were swept offshore by strong currents.
Foreign news agencies reported on Monday, 2 Feb 2026, that the 13-year-old boy and his family were paddleboarding and kayaking at Geographe Bay in southern Western Australia last Friday (30 Jan), when strong winds pushed them off course.
The boy tried to paddle back to shore to get help, but his kayak began to take on water, so he decided to swim the remaining 4 kilometers on his own.
“The courage, strength, and determination of this family are truly remarkable, especially the young boy who swam 4 kilometers to raise the alarm,” stated the volunteer marine rescue group Naturaliste.
Paul Bresland, the rescue office commander, said the boy’s effort was superhuman. “He said he swam the first two hours wearing a life jacket... but this brave young boy thought he wouldn’t make it to shore if he kept it on, so he took it off and swam another two hours without it.”
The Western Australia Police said in a Monday statement that the boy reached shore to report the incident at about 6:00 p.m. local time Friday, triggering a large search operation for the missing relatives from Quindalup Beach near Busselton.
A rescue helicopter found the 47-year-old mother, along with her 12-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter, around 8:30 p.m. the same day, clinging to a paddleboard 14 kilometers offshore. Rescue boats then safely brought them back to shore.
Inspector James Bradley said the incident serves as a strong reminder of how quickly sea conditions can change. “Fortunately, all three were wearing life jackets, which helped keep them alive.”
“The actions of this 13-year-old boy deserve endless praise. His determination and bravery ultimately saved his mother and siblings,” he added.
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Source:bbc