The Daily Populous Monday February 2nd, 2026 evening edition
Authored by abc.net.au and submitted by AnothrRandomRedditor

A 13-year-old boy has been hailed as a hero after swimming 4 kilometres through rough waters for help after his mother and two siblings were swept out to sea off Western Australia's South West.

The family were holidaying at Quindalup, 250 kilometres south of Perth, when their inflatable paddleboards and kayak were pushed offshore by strong winds on Friday evening.

The 13-year-old tried to paddle back to shore on his kayak before it took on water in rough seas.

He then swam for four more hours to shore and successfully raised the alarm.

The rescue was mounted from the boat ramp on Quindalup Beach. (ABC South West WA: Madigan Landry)

Naturaliste Marine Rescue commander Paul Bresland said the 47-year-old mother, her 12-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter were eventually found at 8:30pm, clinging to a paddleboard about 14km offshore.

Mr Bresland said the efforts of the 13-year-old, who continued to swim to shore through choppy waters, were "superhuman".

"He swam in, he reckons, the first two hours with a life jacket on," he said.

Volunteers point out the location of the rescue in Geographe Bay. (ABC South West WA: Madigan Landry)

"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.

Once the teen reached land and raised the alarm, a multi-agency search and rescue operation was mobilised, including WA Water Police, local marine rescue volunteers and Western Australia's Rescue Helicopter.

Paul Bresland and Dan Crosbie praised both the 13-year-old boy and his mother for their part in the rescue. (ABC South West WA: Madigan Landry)

South West Police Inspector James Bradley said it was an important reminder of ocean safety.

"Thankfully, all three people were wearing life jackets, which contributed to their survival," he said.

"The actions of the 13-year-old boy cannot be praised highly enough — his determination and courage ultimately saved the lives of his mother and siblings."

Mr Bresland said the 13-year-old's detailed description of the colour of the kayak and paddleboards was invaluable to search efforts.

"Within an hour, we found the kayak," he said.

He said the family were treading water in rough seas for hours before they were found.

The mother somehow managed to keep the other children with the paddleboard.

Naturaliste Marine Rescue volunteers helped locate the family after the boy swam to shore. (ABC South West WA: Madigan Landry)

"Physically, she just said, 'I'm struggling, I can't,' but she just said they're looking her in the eye, and she just kept going and kept them together," Mr Bresland said.

" She's an absolute hero as well. To keep those two children together and not give up is absolutely incredible. "

The trio were pulled out of the water by a volunteer marine rescue vessel and returned to shore.

They were assessed by St John WA paramedics before being conveyed to Busselton Health Campus.

The ABC understands the family were discharged from the hospital over the weekend and visited the marine rescue crews involved to say thank you.

Ohgodwatdoplshelp on February 2nd, 2026 at 12:38 UTC »

2 hrs of swimming with a life jacket on, the he ditched it because he didn’t think he would make it in time and swam another 2 hours to shore. Wow

pittyh on February 2nd, 2026 at 12:34 UTC »

Wow what a hero, truly saved his family

AudibleNod on February 2nd, 2026 at 12:33 UTC »

The boy eventually reached shore and raised the alarm after his marathon swim.

His mother, brother and sister were found clinging to a kayak almost 14km offshore.