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<\/p>\nA 13-year-old boy has been hailed a hero by netizens all over the world after he swam around four kilometres in big waves and strong currents to get help for his stranded mother and siblings.<\/p>\n
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Austin Applebee was on holiday in Quindalup, Western Australia, and enjoying a day in the water with his mother Joanne, 47, and siblings Beau, 12, and Grace, 8.<\/p>\n
The family got into trouble when their inflatable kayak and paddleboats were swept out to sea off the West Australian coast around noon. Realising the seriousness of the situation, it was decided that Austin would row the inflatable kayak back to shore to raise the alarm.<\/p>\n
At first, he attempted to tow his family members on the light-weight vessel, but when it started taking on water, Austin had to modify the plans and swim on his own.<\/p>\n
The youth, who took his first swimming lessons at the age of four, said he was fighting rough seas and at one stage he had seen something in the water which frightened him a lot.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just said, \u2018Not today, not today, not today, I have to keep on going\u2019<\/em>,\u201d he told reporters. \u201cI could feel how tired I was. I was thinking about the events that occurred in my life. I was aiming to get the happiest memories in my head<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Austin said the waves were massive and he had no life jacket on. He had taken it off because it was slowing him down. He swam for four hours.<\/p>\n \u201cAt one point when I was doing breast-stroke I could actually see under water which I couldn\u2019t do before<\/em>,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n After collapsing on shore, Austin had to quickly get up and make another amazing effort: he had to sprint another 2 kilometres to make his way to a phone to call the emergency services.<\/p>\n \u201cI said I need helicopters, I need planes, I need boats, my family\u2019s out at sea<\/em>,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Austin said he worried he’d taken too long and that his family might have passed away while he was swimming to shore.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got a girlfriend and I was thinking about her, she gave me her lackeys [bracelets] and I was just thinking of that \u2013 and just keep on swimming, keep on swimming<\/em>,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it was actually me who did that. It was God the whole time. I kept on praying and kept on praying and I said to God, \u2018I\u2019ll get baptised\u2019<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Joanne said she sent her son to get help because he was the strongest swimmer \u2013 he is also taller than his mum \u2013 but said she couldn\u2019t stand to leave her children alone and that it was one of the hardest decisions she had to make.<\/p>\n The three family members kept their spirits up as they drifted 14 kilometres from the shore, singing and making jokes until dark skies and big waves started to make the situation feel more ominous.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no bigger word to describe him other than proud, me and his dad are super proud<\/em>,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n West Australian Water Police, a rescue chopper and Naturaliste Marine Rescue were all activated and the stranded Applebee trio were rescued around 8.30 p.m. WA Premier Roger Cook called Austin\u2019s actions \u201can extraordinary act of courage<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n
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