Joanne Appelbee says asking her 13-year-old son Austin to swim four hours through dangerous waters to get help after her family was swept out to sea was “one of the hardest decisions” she has ever made. It started with “a bit of fun” with two paddleboards and a kayak in shallow water at the beach, when the children “went out a bit too far”. While Austin swam for the shore, Joanne and the children drifted further out to sea, soon losing sight of him. Joanne heard Grace screaming, but couldn’t hear Beau, until they turned off the boat’s engine and could locate him. View image in fullscreen Austin Appelbee (right) and his brother Beau, mother Joanne and sister Grace (L-R).

Source: The Guardian February 05, 2026 19:51 UTC