We Must Have a Aircraft to Locate Them’: Teenager’s Emergency Call to Save Loved Ones Lost Off Australian Coast Disclosed

“We got lost out there,” young Austin Appelbee informs the 000 call handler, after swimming 2.5 miles in choppy, open ocean and sprinting 1.25 miles to secure help for his family.

The dispatcher questions how long has gone by since he started out.

“[It] was quite some time back … I think they’re kilometres out to sea. I think we need a chopper to locate them,” he says.

Authorities have disclosed the recorded plea made previously after the youth left his loved ones drifting at sea off the WA coast to seek assistance.

His tone remains steady and composed, even as he expresses his fear for his family.

“I have no idea about what their status is right now, and I’m extremely frightened,” he tells the person on the line.

“Mum said to seek assistance … We were in grave peril.”

The Harrowing Ordeal

The family group had been pulled 4km out to sea in rough conditions while using kayaks and paddleboards.

His mother asked him to set out and find help, so the teenager commenced, discarding first his failing kayak then his bulky flotation device to cover the remaining stretch.

After getting to the beach – four hours later – he ran for two kilometres to get to a cell phone.

“Hello, my name is Austin … I have younger siblings, Beau and Grace. Beau is 12 and Grace is eight,” he states the call handler.

“I’m located on the beach right now, and I have to also mention – I think I need an ambulance because I think I have exposure … I’m really, I’m extremely tired. I have sunstroke, and I feel like I’m about to faint.”

A Getaway in Peril

The group was on holiday in Quindalup, 125 miles south of Perth. They set off from Geographe Bay following 10am on a Friday in late January.

The mother later described that they were playing around when the kids “went out a bit too far”. The conditions worsened, they dropped their paddles, and started being carried out.

“It sort of all turned bad very, very quickly,” she said.

The parent also referenced having to make “one of the hardest decisions” to ask her son to swim to land.

“I knew he was the best swimmer and he was able to manage it,” she commented.

The Search Operation

The boy described being “completely out of breath”.

“I just continued swimming, I do breaststroke, I do freestyle, I do elementary backstroke,” he said.

The call for help was made at about 6pm.

At roughly 8.30pm, many hours after they first began, the family were found and brought to safety. They had drifted about 14km out to sea.

The audio was released with the family’s permission.

A police sergeant who oversaw the search and rescue effort said the group was in an “incredibly perilous state”.

“They were in genuine danger, and time was of the essence given how long they had been in the water and with light running out.

“What the boy did was truly remarkable. His heroic actions in those conditions were remarkable, and his actions were instrumental in bringing about a successful outcome.”

The sergeant also praised how the youth clearly relayed critical information.

When asked to identify the equipment for the rescue team, the youth said: “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. Since we hooked one.”