The family had been on a kayaking and paddling trip off the coast of Geographe Bay, south of Perth.Image: keystone
A family was blown away by the wind during a kayaking trip off the coast of Western Australia. The 13-year-old son then set off alone to the coast to get help. His endurance surprised the rescue workers.
02/03/2026, 10:0802/03/2026, 10:08
The mother and her three children were kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding off the coast of Geographe Bay in western Australia when strong winds blew them off course and towards the open sea, media reports.
The 13-year-old son then set off towards the coast in his kayak to get help. However, along the way, the kayak filled with water, reports ABC News. He had to leave it behind. He therefore swam the remaining four kilometers towards land. It took him four hours before he could raise the alarm.
Around two hours later, the 47-year-old mother and the two 8- and 12-year-old siblings that the teenager had had to leave behind were found. They were now around 14 kilometers from the coast.
The rescue workers were very impressed by the 13-year-old’s performance. She is even “superhuman,” said the commander of the “Naturaliste Marine Rescue,” Paul Bresland. “He swam with a life jacket on for the first two hours.” Because he thought he wouldn’t make it with it, he left it behind and swam without a life jacket for the next two hours. “I thought, boy, this is incredible,” Bresland said.
James Bradley, police inspector in charge, also praises the young person’s actions. “The action of the 13-year-old boy cannot be praised highly enough. His determination and courage ultimately saved the lives of his mother and siblings.”
The mother also did an extraordinary job by being able to keep the two children on the SUP board, which the family clung to for hours, despite extreme physical exhaustion. Bradley also reminded people of the importance of life jackets. Thanks to these, the family survived in the open sea for so long. (front)
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