A 13-year-old boy has been praised for his determination after he swam through rough waters in fading light to save his mother and two siblings who had been swept out to sea off Australia's coast.
The family had been paddleboarding and kayaking in Geographe Bay, near Quindalup in Western Australia, on Friday when strong winds pushed their inflatables off course, police said.
The teenager began to paddle back to shore to raise the alarm but his kayak took on water - so he swam the remaining 4km (2 nautical miles).
The bravery, strength and courage shown by this family were extraordinary, especially the young fella who swam 4km to raise the alarm, Naturaliste Volunteer Marine Rescue Group said.
The organisation's commander Paul Bresland described the efforts of the teenager as superhuman. He swam in, he reckons, the first two hours with a life jacket on, but then discarded it because he thought it would slow him down during the final stretch.
The boy was able to raise the alarm by 18:00 local time (10:00 GMT) on Friday evening, sparking a multi-agency search for his relatives still adrift.
The 47-year-old mother, her other son, 12, and daughter, eight, were located around 20:30 by a rescue helicopter, clinging to a paddleboard approximately 14km offshore. A volunteer marine rescue vessel was directed to their location, and all three were successfully rescued and returned to shore.
Insp James Bradley highlighted the importance of wearing life jackets, noting that they contributed to the family's survival. He also praised the actions of the boy, emphasizing that his determination and courage ultimately saved his family.
The family was assessed by paramedics and later discharged, visiting the marine rescue crew to express their gratitude.
