We Must Have a Chopper to Search For Them’: Adolescent’s Urgent Plea to Save Relatives Stranded Off Down Under Coast Unveiled

“We got lost out there,” a 13-year-old boy informs the emergency operator, having swum 4km in rough, open ocean and sprinting two kilometres to summon rescue for his household.

The operator inquires how long has elapsed since he started out.

“[It] was quite some time back … I think they’re a long way from land. I think we must get a chopper to search for them,” he states.

Emergency services have disclosed the distress call made last month after the youth departed from his family adrift at sea off the WA coast to fetch help.

His demeanour remains lucid and collected, even as he voices his fear for his family members.

“I am unsure of what their state is right now, and I’m terrified,” he tells the person on the line.

“Mum said to find rescue … We were in massive trouble.”

The Harrowing Ordeal

The holidaymakers had been pulled four kilometres out to sea in stormy conditions while enjoying water sports.

His mother urged him to take his kayak and find help, so the boy began, ditching first his failing kayak then his unwieldy PFD to swim the distance.

After reaching land – after an extensive period – he ran for 1.25 miles to access a mobile phone.

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

“I’m sitting on the beach right now, and I have to also explain – I think I need an ambulance because I think I have exposure … I’m really, I’m extremely tired. I have hyperthermia, and I feel like I’m about to pass out.”

A Holiday Turned Crisis

The group was on a break in Quindalup, 125 miles south of Perth. They began their trip from Geographe Bay some time after 10am on a Friday in late January.

The parent later recalled that they were enjoying themselves when the kids “ventured out too far”. The wind picked up, they were separated from their equipment, and started drifting.

“It pretty much all became dangerous very, very quickly,” she said.

The parent also described having to make “an incredibly tough choice” to ask her son to swim to land.

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

The Rescue Effort

The boy recalled being “extremely winded”.

“I just keep swimming, I do the breaststroke, I do front crawl, I do a floating stroke,” he explained.

The emergency call was made at approximately 6pm.

At around 8.30pm, many hours after they first set out, the group were located and saved. They had floated about fourteen kilometres out to sea.

The emergency call was shared with the parents' permission.

A senior officer who coordinated the operation said the family was in an “incredibly perilous state”.

“They were in real trouble, and time was of the essence given how much time 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 astonishing, and his actions were pivotal in bringing about a positive result.”

The commander also highlighted how the teenager clearly relayed critical information.

When asked to identify the paddleboards for the search crew, the youth responded: “They were coloured green and white.”

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