Austin Appelbee was 13 when he plunged into the sea without knowing whether he would make it to shore.
On January 30, his family was kayaking and paddleboarding near Quindalup, in Western Australia, when the wind and currents began pulling them out to sea. His mother, Joanne, made a desperate decision: to send Austin toward shore while she stayed in the water with Beau, 12, and Grace, 8.
Austin tried to return in the kayak, but it began to sink. He abandoned it, took off his life jacket, and kept swimming. After covering about four kilometers, he finally reached land and ran until he found a phone from which he could call for help.
By the time rescuers found Joanne and her other two children, they had spent about 10 hours in the water and were about 14 kilometers from shore.
Eight months later, Austin’s story was recognized with one of Australia’s highest honors for bravery. In Perth, the teenager received the Clarke Gold Medal, awarded by the Royal Humane Society of Australasia, for his decisive role in rescuing his family. His mother, Joanne, was also recognized with a Certificate of Merit for the composure and judgment she showed during the emergency.
When he received the medal, Austin did not take all the credit. He said that his mother was “probably one of the bravest people that day” and that the recognition also belonged to his siblings.