A boy was hailed a hero after an epic swim to save his family. Austin Appelbee, 13, and his family were on holiday in Australia. They were kayaking and paddleboarding in shallow water when the wind pushed them offshore. They ended up four kilometres away from land. The daylight was fading. Austin decided to kayak to shore to get help. However, the waves had damaged his kayak and it flipped over. He said he then lost an oar and knew he was in trouble. He said he had no alternative but to swim to land to raise the alarm. He swam through shark-frequented waters.
Austin got to the beach and phoned for help. This sparked a rescue operation. Coastguards found the boy's mother and two younger sisters. The boy said: "I hit the bottom of the beach and I just collapsed, and then, after that, I had to sprint two kilometres to get to the phone." Rescuers called him "superhuman". One rescuer said Austin's actions could not "be praised highly enough". He said Austin's "determination and courage ultimately saved the lives of his mother and siblings". Austin's mother Joanne, 47, said the experience was "an absolute nightmare".
Try the same news story at these levels:
Heroes - Level 4 or Heroes - Level 6
Sources- https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/teen-13-makes-harrowing-swim-through-shark-frequented-wa-waters-to-save-family-swept-out-to-sea/YS5HBJ2Y2BFP3G44WGQ7Z67BPM/
- https://www.nbcnews.com/world/australia/australia-perth-family-stranded-sea-teenager-swims-rcna257203
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly3ezj3rg3o
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