‘We Need a Aircraft to Search For Them’: 13-Year-Old’s Urgent Plea to Save Family Stranded Off Aussie Coast Disclosed

“We became disoriented out there,” the teenager tells the emergency operator, following a swim 2.5 miles in choppy, the sea and running 2km to summon rescue for his kin.

The dispatcher inquires how long has passed since he started out.

“[It] was quite some time back … I think they’re kilometres out to sea. I think we need a chopper to go find them,” he states.

Emergency services have disclosed the distress call made previously after the boy left his family adrift at sea off the Western Australian coast to seek assistance.

His demeanour remains clear and calm, even as he expresses his concern for his family.

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

“Mum said to seek assistance … We were in grave peril.”

The Perilous Situation

The mother and children had been swept 4km out to sea in treacherous conditions while enjoying water sports.

His mum asked him to set out and locate rescue, so the youth began, ditching first his failing kayak then his cumbersome lifejacket to swim the distance.

After getting to the beach – after an extensive period – he sprinted for 1.25 miles to retrieve a mobile phone.

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

“I’m positioned on the beach right now, and I have to also mention – I think I need an medical help because I think I have exposure … I’m really, I’m completely exhausted. I have heatstroke, and I feel like I’m about to pass out.”

A Holiday Turned Crisis

The group was on holiday in Quindalup, two hundred kilometres south of Perth. They began their trip from Geographe Bay around 10am on a Friday in late January.

The woman later recalled that they were enjoying themselves when the young ones “drifted further than intended”. The conditions worsened, they dropped their paddles, and started being carried out.

“It sort of all became dangerous very, very quickly,” she said.

The mother also referenced having to make “a terribly difficult call” to ask her son to swim ashore.

“I knew he was the best swimmer and he had the ability to succeed,” she stated.

The Search Operation

The boy described being “extremely winded”.

“I just pressed on, I do breaststroke, I do front crawl, I do a floating stroke,” he recalled.

The emergency call was made at approximately 6pm.

At roughly 8.30pm, a full ten hours after they first set out, the stranded individuals were found and brought to safety. They had drifted about 14km out to sea.

The emergency call was released with the mother’s permission.

A forward commander who coordinated the search and rescue effort said the group was in an “extremely dire situation”.

“They were in real trouble, and time was extremely pressing given how long they had been in the water and with light running out.

“What Austin did was truly remarkable. His bravery and courage in those conditions were remarkable, and his actions were instrumental in bringing about a positive result.”

The sergeant also highlighted how the boy effectively communicated vital details.

When asked to detail the boards for the authorities, the boy responded: “They were green and white.”

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