‘Superhuman’ teen swims 4 hours to save family swept out to sea in Australia
The 13-year-old hero ditched his life jacket halfway through the swim, fearing the drag would stop him reaching shore
The 13-year-old boy swam 4km (2.5 miles) back to shore to raise the alarm after his mother and two younger siblings were swept out to sea while kayaking and paddleboarding near the Western Australian tourist town of Quindalup.
Marine rescue volunteer Paul Bresland said the teenager’s four-hour swim saved his family, who were eventually found clinging to a paddle-board in the open ocean.
I thought, mate, that is incredible
“He swam, he reckons, the first two hours with a life jacket on,” Bresland told national broadcaster ABC.
“And the brave fella thought he’s not going to make it with a life jacket on, so he ditched it, and he swam the next two hours without a life jacket.”
“I thought, mate, that is incredible,” said Bresland, describing the boy’s efforts as “superhuman”.
01:23
Australian teen swims 4 hours to save family members swept out to sea
Police inspector James Bradley said the boy’s actions “cannot be praised highly enough”.