We Require a Chopper to Locate Them’: 13-Year-Old’s Urgent Plea to Aid Family Adrift Off Aussie Coast Unveiled

“We became disoriented out there,” the teenager explains to the emergency operator, following a swim four kilometres in treacherous, the sea and jogging two kilometres to summon rescue for his kin.

The dispatcher inquires how long has elapsed since he set off.

“[It] was a very long time ago … I think they’re kilometres out to sea. I think we must get a rescue aircraft to locate them,” he states.

Emergency services have disclosed the emergency phone call made previously after the boy left his loved ones drifting at sea off the West Australian coast to seek assistance.

His tone remains clear and calm, even as he details his worry for his family.

“I am unsure of what their condition is right now, and I’m extremely frightened,” he informs the dispatcher.

“Mum said go get help … We were in massive trouble.”

The Dangerous Incident

The holidaymakers had been swept four kilometres out to sea in rough conditions while using kayaks and paddleboards.

His mum urged him to use his craft and locate rescue, so the teenager set off, abandoning first his failing kayak then his unwieldy PFD to cover the remaining stretch.

After reaching land – four hours later – he ran for 1.25 miles to get to a phone.

“Hello, my name is Austin … I have younger siblings, Beau and Grace. Beau is 12 and Grace is eight,” he tells the operator.

“I’m positioned on the beach right now, and I have to also explain – I think I need an paramedic because I think I have a dangerously low body temperature … I’m really, I’m completely exhausted. I have heatstroke, and I feel like I’m about to faint.”

A Getaway in Peril

The group was on a break in Quindalup, 125 miles south of Perth. They departed from Geographe Bay around 10am on a Friday in late January.

The mother later described that they were playing around when the kids “went out a bit too far”. The wind picked up, they were separated from their equipment, and started drifting.

“It sort of all turned bad very, very quickly,” she said.

The mother also described having to make “a terribly difficult call” to instruct her son to swim to land.

“I knew he was the most capable and he had the ability to succeed,” she said.

The Rescue Effort

The boy recalled being “extremely winded”.

“I just continued swimming, I do breaststroke, I do freestyle, I do a floating stroke,” he explained.

The call for help was made at around 6pm.

At roughly 8.30pm, many hours after they first departed, the stranded individuals were found and brought to safety. They had been carried about 9 miles out to sea.

The recording was released with the family’s permission.

A forward commander who coordinated the operation said the group was in an “extremely dire situation”.

“They were in real trouble, and time was extremely pressing given how much time they had been in the water and with night approaching.

“What Austin did was incredibly brave. His bravery and courage in those conditions were astonishing, and his actions were crucial in bringing about a successful outcome.”

The officer also highlighted how the teenager effectively communicated critical information.

When asked to detail the boards for the rescue team, the youth replied: “They were green and white.”

“And I’m not sure if it’s still attached, but they had this fishing line, and there was a catch on the line. Since we hooked one.”