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A 13-year-old boy has been hailed as a hero for saving his family after they were swept out to sea off Australia’s south-west coast, swimming for four hours to get help.
Austin Appelbee swam 4km (2.5miles) to shore after he got into difficulties with his mother, Joanne Appelbee, 47, brother Beau, 12, and sister Grace, 8, police said.
The boy and his family had been using inflatable paddle boards and a kayak at Geographe Bay on Friday when strong winds pushed them offshore.
Police said the teenager initially tried to paddle back to land in his kayak,
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