Boy swims for hours to save family after being swept out to sea has been hailed as a hero after completing an extraordinary open-water swim to raise the alarm when his family was blown far offshore during a holiday on Western Australia’s south-west coast.
The incident unfolded near Quindalup, south of Perth, when strong offshore winds pushed the family out to sea while they were using inflatable paddleboards and kayaks.
With his mother and two younger brothers stranded in open water, the teenager made the split-second decision to swim back to shore alone after his kayak began taking on water. Battling exhaustion and dangerous conditions — in an area known for recent shark sightings — he covered an estimated four kilometres before collapsing on the beach.
Despite barely being able to stand, the boy immediately got back on his feet and ran to find a phone, triggering an urgent rescue operation.
Authorities were only alerted to the family’s situation once the teenager reached land.
What followed was a coordinated, multi-agency response involving an aircraft from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, a rescue helicopter from Bunbury, and vessels from Naturaliste Volunteer Marine Rescue and Marine Rescue Busselton.
Several hours later, rescuers located the boy’s 47-year-old mother and his brothers, aged 12 and eight, clinging to a single paddleboard around 14 kilometres offshore.
Naturaliste Marine Rescue commander Paul Bresland described the teenager’s efforts as “superhuman”, noting that he initially swam wearing a life jacket before discarding it when he felt it was slowing him down.
“He swam for hours to get help,” Bresland said. “That determination almost certainly saved their lives.”
South West Police also praised the boy’s courage and composure, highlighting that all family members had been wearing life jackets — a factor authorities say proved critical to their survival.
Marine Rescue Busselton later described the outcome as a “fantastic effort” under extremely difficult conditions, while reminding beachgoers that strong offshore winds are common at this time of year.
The teenager, speaking afterwards, said he simply focused on getting back to shore.
“I just kept telling myself, ‘not today’,” he said, explaining how he alternated between different swimming techniques to conserve energy.
Emergency services and community members have since praised the young boy’s bravery, describing his actions as a powerful reminder of the importance of safety awareness — and the extraordinary resilience people can show when loved ones are in danger.
