A 13-year-old boy has been credited with saving the lives of his mother and two younger siblings with a four-hour swim after the family was swept out to sea off the Australian coast. He abandoned the kayak and then took off his life jacket because it impeded his swimming. The family were on holiday in Quindalup, Western Australia (AuBC via AP)“The waves are massive and I have no life jacket on. A search helicopter found the mother and two children wearing life jackets and clinging to a paddleboard at 8.30pm, police said. Ms Appelbee told reporters on Tuesday she sent her oldest child for help because she could not leave the three children.

Source: Irish Examiner February 04, 2026 02:51 UTC